Top Developments of 2009

I’ve already talked about all the things going on with the residents of This D*mn House. But 2009 was full of activity for the house itself, too.

· Pimpin’ the Shed – A project that was a carry-over from 2008, I finally got the exterior of the storage shed resided.
· Michelangelo (Phase 1) – We finally reached a consensus on what kind of ceiling tiles to use – faux tintype in white, unfinished 2x3 sheets of polystyrene. The mother painted some black for the bathroom and silver for the kitchen, including a few extra for backsplash. (All of these except for one section of backsplash in the kitchen) are now in place. Phase 2 will be included in my overview of 2010.
· New Appliances – The mother nearly drove me to distraction after falling in love with an oversized (at least for our tiny kitchen) refrigerator. It took months for me to find one that would meet her exacting standards and nearly that long to find a stove to match. We also got a new under-the-cabinet can opener and a still unboxed microwave.
· Bathroom floor – We both fell in love with the black and white hex mosaic and this gave me a chance to try my hand at porcelain tile. I don’t think it came out too badly (except for some stubborn grout haze which I’ve all but corrected.) Still some work to be done here.
· Goodbye cabinets! – With some help from the ever loyal Lawrence, I was able to shed the kitchen of its antiquated raised panel doors. More recently, we manufactured some drawer fronts to match. There is still quite a bit of work though to get this project across the finish line. Even so, it already looks incredibly different.
· Kitchen floor – Tearing up the old kitchen floor, or I should say floors as there were at least three or four layers of them, was a bear. I only got as far as putting the new Hardibacker down. Porcelain tile is coming. Soon.
· Carport conundrum – That disquieting lean that the carport had been reaching during the past decade was finally corrected – and based on what Lawrence and I found, not a minute too soon! The idiots who built the carport had just set the columns in the dirt – load-bearing columns! – with no footing underneath. Luckily, we were able to fix that and I even got to fix the excavation we did by adding a little brickwork, tying it neatly to the walkway and porch. Matchy, matchy!
· Tub enclosure – We didn’t get the one that we wanted, but we did get a new one. And it’s white, too! All of which brought about some additional and previously unexpected changes for the bathroom. Like new wallpaper. That’s another still to come project.

Lots of projects but most of them are just the beginning of something else. Yep. It's going to be a VERY busy 2010! Happy New Year everybody!

A Look Back

I've had to remind myself a number of times already that today is the last day of the year. It hardly seems possible. Add to that, it's already going to be 2010! To think just 10 short years ago we were partyin' like it was 1999. Amazing.


It's been a big year at This D*mn House, even with all of the house projects aside. There were a lot of comings and goings just within our family. Our long-standing furfiend Tigger died at the end of March and my great-uncle Bill followed suit not long after.

Pearl arrived at the beginning of May and it would be hard to begin to describe the joy that has added to my life. And in July and September respectively, two of my nearest and dearest became grandmothers. (In spite of the fact that we are MUCH too young for such things.) Can't wait to see new photos next weekend!!!
July also brought a baby to our house -- yet another of the furry variety. Taz, the abandoned kitten, joined our clan. She would be part of both the coming and goings for the year, going to live with a new family in November where I am pleased to report she is much loved and very happy.

September also saw something I'd been trying to accomplish for the mother for three years: meeting Chris Botti. In November, I marked a first by going to a hockey game for the first time.

WOW! And those are just some of the things that happened this year.

Until I started putting this post together, even I had failed to completely appreciate what a big year it's been. The most important thing though is that, in spite of a year that has been so devastating for some, I've managed to remain employed, the mother and I have been healthy (well, relatively), and things under the roof at This D*mn House are safe and sound.

My dear friend CD will definitely appreciate this summary for '09:

Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through

But still I'm cool. (She's) cool.

I can't complain but sometimes I still do.

Life's been good to me so far. -- Joe Walsh, "Life's Been Good"

Yup. All in all, I've got to say it was a pretty good year.

Coming next: The year in review from the DIY perspective.

Nip It in the Bud

When it comes to illness, I think the worst thing that can plague you is vomiting. Second only to that is a sore throat. In my book, either of those are sufficient grounds for a whin-o-rama.
Last night, I came close to suffering both.

I’ve been congested for weeks after suffering whatever that bug was a while back. The cough and congestion have gotten worse in the last week or so and yesterday, the sore throat arrived. It was accompanied by an unbearable tenderness on my right neck. It also came with nasty-colored goop gathering in and draining from both my throat and nose. And, I was running a temp of about 100. All things point to: another sinus infection. Ugh! D*mn! Can I not stop getting these already? Sheesh.

So, I kept pouring hot tea down. I popped Tylenol and a leftover antibiotic, put ear drops in both ears (because they had started in by this time), took a hot shower and was in bed more than an hour earlier than usual. I repeated the cycle today (adding hot soup to the line-up) and all seems MUCH better. No more sore throat, the ears are behaving again and the neck tenderness is all but gone. And I’m going to bed early, tonight, too!

I tried to call my allergist to see if he’d get me more antibiotics for the long weekend but haven’t had any luck reaching anyone. I’ll keep trying AND we’ll see if I have successfully stopped this thing from going down the nastiest of roads. Here’s hoping.

I Hate Snow

Just in case I've failed to mention it *removing tongue from cheek*, I hate snow. For the record, if I had my way, snow would be confined to movies and Christmas cards. That's the only places I would want to ever see it.


But d*mn. Even I'm forced to admit that it's pretty. A b*tch to drive in (especially when as little as a dusting seems to make people extra stupid here), but pretty.

The Beauty of the Internet

I have to admit, there are days that I don’t know how we lived before the Internet. Today was one such day.


I do a lot of online shopping. I've bought everything from books and CDs to digital cameras to our new stove! I'm usually not amazed by what I can find on the Internet because it so rarely fails me. But, on occasion, it can still send me reeling by both the speed at which it locates what I'm looking for and with the price associated with it.

In my preparation for Crop Camp, I have nearly killed my supply of a major photo industry leader’s picture paper. They are a former client and during one of my visits, I was privy to the company store and was able to pack a few 50-sheet packs in my carry-on at a bargain basement price. That was more than two years ago (probably closer to three) and many Crop Camps and other projects have slowly eroded that supply.

I was online for all of 30 seconds and found exactly what I was looking for and at a great price – on eBay.

Over the weekend, the mother was lamenting the inability to find Wind and Willow’s White Chocolate Cherry Cheeseball mix at our usual local establishments. Apparently, this is a “seasonal” product and a little tough to find after the holidays.

I solved that problem in about a minute and got a shock: I found it on AMAZON! They sell it and many other flavors in a six-pack for $19! (That's even cheaper than the $3.50 to $4 per box we pay locally.) Free shipping on orders over $25 applies, too, so I doubled up. The mother will be thrilled.

Dear Internet: I love you!

Happy, Happy, Happy

Today, there are all kinds of well wishes to send out from This D*mn House.

First, a very Happy Anniversary to Mr. and Mrs. PlumBelieve. It’s their 20th anniversary. Man, 20 years. That sure goes fast! So, 20 years – and four kids – later, here’s hoping the love is just as strong as in the infamous float trip picture. (Which I’ve not shared here.) And here’s to 20 more … at least!

And then, there’s wishing a very happy birthday to Stevie Ray, son of B., who was born on the PlumBelives’ first wedding anniversary, forever making Dec. 29 a doubly special day! Happy 19th birthday (shaking as I type that), Stevie!
He would probably kill me for putting this here but it's too cute. (And I didn't do it on Facebook!)

Lazy, Lazy, Lazy!

Today was one of those perfect days where I would do stuff -- and then take a nap.

I got up early and got the trash out. Turns out I needn't have bothered. The trashman didn't come until almost noon! But I got up and did it and put some things away and picked other stuff up and then went to bed. (The mother and I stayed up kind of late watching Doubt.)

Then I got up and did a bit of running. I must be living a charmed life because yesterday's snow is all but gone. Makes me so happy. It didn't take much effort to clear what was left off of Ladybird and the streets were remarkably clear.

One of the to-dos on my list for today was to recycle cans. Well, I tried. They are closed until Jan. 4! I delivered the rest of our charity goods (another thing on today's list) so I was able to just stuff the cans into Ladybird's trunk.

Then I did some more stuff to get ready for Crop Camp. I actually FOUND stuff I was looking for. (Writing this on the calendar as it rarely happens until AFTER the fact.) I still have to get to clothes packing. Of course, that's going to require LAUNDRY first. Ugh.

But then I had some lunch and took ANOTHER nap! Ah, glorious. Going back to work tomorrow is going to bite it.

Gettin' Ready

I awoke this morning to snow-covered streets. This changed my initial plans for the day. At first, I thought it just delayed them but every time I would go to get bundled to go out and clean off cars, the snow returned with a vengeance.

Luckily, by mid-afternoon the snow was intermittent and the streets, once quite ugly, were just wet. The grass and other surfaces remained covered. I'm guessing we got a little over 2 inches. Then the sun came out and it began to dwindle.

By that time though I was knee-deep in preparing for Crop Camp. It IS just 12 days away after all! I'm happy to say that I'm in pretty good shape, roughly 75 percent prepped and most of that remaining 25 percent is all clothes. So, I'm feeling pretty good about that. And have I mentioned that I CAN'T WAIT?! Well, just in case, I CAN'T WAIT!

Tomorrow though I have a list of things I have to do. It's my last vacation day for the year and I need to make the most of it. And, I've decided that next weekend I'm going to finish the bathroom floor. Should be great since we aren't going anywhere (like with Christmas) and there won't be any shopping excursions required. So, that will be a year-end project that ideally will set the course for 2010.

The Day After Christmas

All that making merry yesterday! We didn't get home until almost 11:30. We ended up watching almost all of Home Alone before finally calling it a day.

Then we got up way ahead of the chickens and left the house by 6:15 a.m. to do a little bargain-hunting. The mother had some specific things in mind and she got them! We made only two stops, had breakfast and were home again before 10.

This was a marked difference from the day after Thanksgiving. We were the first car on the lot at Gordman's (outside a few that obviously belonged to a few employees). When the store opened at 7, we were among the first five people in the building.

There was almost no traffic at all. None. It was truly amazing. Really a welcome surprise

***

The mother had a childhood friend and former neighbor whose birthday was just a few days after Christmas. The widow who originally lived next door to This D*mn House when we bought it had a Christmas Eve birthday. But today, the day after Christmas, that belongs to the MonkeyGirl.

I know that people born around the holidays usually get a little gyped by having their birthdays wrapped into a neat little ball with Christmas. Sometimes, they don't even get birthday wrap -- they get Christmas paper. As a summer baby, I can't even begin to comprehend having my birthday melded with some other holiday.

So, consider it an official NOT HOLIDAY wishing of a very happy birthday to my MEF! I'm already way geared for Crop Camp. (Just 12 days plus ... YAY!)

Scenes from Christmas

Kitty cats with stockings

A souffle baked by me



Hangin' with the mother

And children in 3-D.
Yorkies opening presents

And future rock stars, too

Budding young photographers,

And top hats bearing rabbits -- bippity, boppity, boo!

My poem will soon be ending

Just like 2009.

So hope your Christmas was merry

And that the day was fine.

So raise the glass and drink up

a great big gulp of cheer

Best wishes to each and every one

For the happiest New Year.

The Night Before Christmas -- This D*mn House Style

With all apologies to Clement Clarke Moore …

‘Twas the night before Christmas and at This D*mn House
NV was trying oh so hard not to grouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In the hopes that Toby wouldn’t strip them both bare.

The furkids were nestled all snug on the couch
As the mother vacuumed the floor – oh yes, she’s no slouch!
I joined them soon, making room with a tap,
Settling into the sofa for a brief winter’s nap.

When on the front lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sofa to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon’s first quarter cast an interesting glow
Upon the neighborhood’s latest holiday freak show.
There, right before my disbelieving eyes did appear,
Lawnmower Man in full Santa Claus gear.

The little old driver, so pokey and slow
Must have decided my yard needed a mow.
He made one pass across, then two and then three,
Before catching in the window a glimpse of unhappy me.

He shrugged his shoulders and then raised the blade’s bar,
“On my way to the tavern – it’s safer than a car.”
And I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

A Very Merry Meltdown

Despite my best efforts to avoid last-minute shopping, I had to stop at Walgreens on the way home. It was a madhouse and I was barely able to get Pearl onto the lot. Not to mention, it was pouring. Pouring.

I know, I know at least it’s not a blizzard. Believe me, I’m grateful for that. Really.

But it only got worse from there.

I was able to get through the store, grab my handful of items and find a spot in line that wasn’t at the back of the store. Three check-outs were going strong and then … meltdown.

“The phone link is down,” announced the cashier manning my line. Uh-oh. But what does that mean?

“We can’t redeem gift cards or sell gift cards.”

Well, that could be a problem considering that Walgreens now carries a variety of gift cards to restaurants and stores. And, it’s Christmas Eve. And, it seemed every third person in line had a gift card they wanted to buy. Groans, mumbles and a few assorted obscenities wafted down the lines.

Then came the nuclear meltdown announcement: “We can’t process credit or debit cards either.”

Merchandise was flung down in check-outs. The crowds began to disappear like water at the parting of the Red Sea. Suddenly, I was next in line. Thank God I had some cash on me! I felt really bad for those who didn't or for those who thought their last-minute gift problem -- in the form of a gift card -- was solved.

Getting off of the parking lot was another exercise in madness. But finally, I made it home.

We're eating some dinner and later we'll watch "It's A Wonderful Life." (This time, I'll actually get to sit down and watch it.) Then we'll likely catch one of the showings of "A Christmas Story."

A nice, quiet Christmas. Hope it's the same for you and yours and that Santa is super generous this year.

Merry Christmas and God bless us -- every one!

Christmas Memories

Christmas was always a magical, but maniacal, time of year.

My grandmother loved Christmas. My grandfather might well have been Ebenezer Scrooge himself. I remember being little, maybe 4, and being terrified that the old man would make good on his threat to wait up for Santa and hit him in the head with a brick. (Young Tom was sadistic that way, mean old man.)

When we lived with them during the holidays -- and this was the case many times during my early life -- the mother had to fight to put up a tree. Young Tom thought Christmas and all its trimmings were "a bunch of bunk."

But that never dampened the season for long. Soon, I was getting visits from Timothy the Elf, an invention of the mother's and her cousin's, her cousin, mother of my late faux brother, Steven. (Timothy would magically knock on doors and windows and wherever those sounds emanated from, I would inevitably find a prize. I was in college before I found out that the two of them were in cahoots, each having served as the noise generator for the other.)

Going to see Santa was an awesome experience usually preceded or followed by a shopping adventure with the mother and her cousin. Steven and I would excitedly point out the items on our respective lists for one another. Many times they were some of the same things. (Like the year we got matching cassette recorders. We thought we were too awesome!)


(I think these are from Christmas 1968, maybe 1969. Aren't we adorable?!)

We were only born a few months apart and shared a somewhat diluted bloodline but were as close as two siblings ever dared be. Closer maybe. Our gifts to each other and the play sessions that followed were some of the best parts of Christmas for me. Some of the Christmas specials I sneak in occasionally were ones that he and I watched together during their FIRST RUN on TV!

I forget sometimes what the wonderment of childhood was like at this time of year. I know that Santa and gifts and a stocking filled to the brim aren't the point, but I had the rest of my life to find that out. I'm eternally grateful that I had those first early years to enjoy the magic and make believe and the electricity of anticipation. And that awesome time with Steven. I miss that more than I can describe. There just wasn't enough of it to last a lifetime.

But over the years, Christmas evolved into a holiday that wasn't about me. It wasn't about toys or trees or Santa. It was about the birth of the son of God. (I had 11 years of Catholic school to drive that home.) It was about others. It became about trying to recreate some of that wonderment, but in a different way, for somebody else. That's one of the reasons the program at work is now such a special and very large part of my holidays.

I got a special gift last night from the mother. The mother who rarely says anything about the work charity program except to ask how it's going or how it went each year. I was telling her I had some things to load up and take to the local agency by the house for two of our adopted families, part of "straggler" donations that seem to show up every year. I was not prepared for the comment that would spur.

"I'm proud of you," she said. "You really are a good person and you have a good heart. Don't ever change." From the mother. The mother who might freely say this to someone else about me, but almost never to me.

I don't even need a bow for that.

Comfort and Joy

I always feel sorry for people who lose loved ones around the holidays. It’s bad enough to lose someone you love at all, but it just seems doubly wrong to be plunged into that kind of grief during the season of joy.

It’s not unusual then that I felt very sorry for the families of those who had managed to lose three young people in two separate car crashes over the weekend. All three were 27-year-olds. And two of them were a married couple who left a 2-year-old behind. In the other crash, the other young man, he is the SECOND member of their family to die in this fashion. His brother died six years ago in another crash.

Last night, I found out that the young man is the son of my godparents’ neighbors. My godmother said that when they went by their house Sunday morning and saw all the cars they just assumed that they had family in for the holidays. She was stunned to get a call the next morning telling her about the young man’s death.

Please pray for that family or send good thoughts their way. They’re really going to need them.

On a much happier note, it seems it really is a season for miracles. Or, I think the people at the heart of these stories would no doubt call them that. So, now that I’ve put you in a funk, I’ll attempt to put you back in the holiday spirit. These ought to do the trick …

· Students, parents and teachers unite to help seventh-grader survive fall on the ice.
· Boy pinned between trucks is home in time for Christmas.
· Toddler up and walking just weeks after life-threatening heart surgery.
· Bin of abandoned puppies brought in from the cold get gift of good homes.
· The phenomenon that is Christmas jars strikes a Fort Myers mom.
· Australian woman becomes mom in ultimate Christmas present surprise.
· A very special Christmas gift: a new heart.

11th Hour Impromptu Shopping

OK. It can't technically be 11th hour shopping because nothing we bought last night was for this Christmas. It was for us and some gifts for NEXT Christmas. (The mother, who shops year-round and is usually ready for Christmas every August was in all her glory.)

Retailers are already offering serious markdowns. I was right. There won't be much left for day-after adventuring. We got a bunch of cute stuff at 75 percent off, some stuff at one-third off, and thanks to an email coupon, 20 percent off.

I even found scrapbooking stuff at one store, sating my disease so much that I didn’t even need to make a special trip across the street to a scrapbooking store. (Merry Christmas to ME.)

****

Stores were busy. Parking lots were full. Check-outs were mercifully short. Surprise!

As we were driving into this shopping mecca on the east side of the Mississippi -- a place I try to avoid at all costs this time of year -- we were assessing the amount of cars on each lot.

The mother: There's a lot of cars on that lot.
NV: Um, there should be. It's a used car lot.

****

The rain waited until we were leaving the last store. I had the mother wait at the entrance while I ran to fetch Pearl. I was nearly halfway across the lot, heading for Pearl, when I spotted another Pearl three aisles over.

Only when I really looked did I notice that the car I was heading for had a sunroof. Pearl does not.

****

We were almost 2/3 of the way home when a state trooper pulled up behind us. He stayed with us the whole rest of the way home up to the last turn onto our road. Mind you, this is a stretch where the speed limits are schizophrenic. One second it's 50, then it's 35, no, wait now it's 45. Uh-oh, back to 35.

The rain, a trooper on my tail, the mother riding shotgun. Yeah.

Instead of following us down that last turn, he abruptly did a U-turn in front of the convenience store at the intersection. Nice little ticket-worthy maneuver, that.

****

While the rain is annoying, it beats the foot of snow that will blanket areas to the north and west of us. The really good news is that snow showers may be as much of a white Christmas as we get.
Works for me as I’ve got a 50-mile drive on Friday.

Tuesday ToolTalk: Black&Decker ReadyWrench

I own a socket set. It’s part of an ancient toolkit that dates back to the days when I had a ’74 SuperBeetle. (One of those sockets fit the spark plug EXACTLY.) I hate to drag that thing out, in part, because every time I open it, its contents end up unceremoniously dumped in the floor.

And then, I spend the next 10 minutes trying socket after socket as I guess at which one I need. As a result, the hall table legs stay wobbly longer than they should. Same for the entertainment center in the livingroom.

That changed recently when I received a Black&Decker ReadyWrench™ as a test product. This tool feeds both my love of multi-function by putting 16 different socket sizes in the palm of your hand and need for convenience by grabbing a single tool – not a whole set.

What I really liked:
· Sturdy, solid design, yet the various socket settings flip easily
· Each setting is clearly marked
· 16 sockets, one tool
What I didn’t like:
· The settings don’t lock in place. While the tool is rugged enough to stay firmly in place on a larger bolt, it slipped a bit when I tried to use it on smaller ones.



Some things it can be used on: furniture assembly (or just keeping things tightened), deck bolts, lawnmowers, air-conditioning grates, auto repair.

Conclusion: A great, last-minute gift idea you might consider for the DIYer in your life.
Availability: Most retail and online outlets, $25-$30.

Want your own? Through Jan. 31, 2010, Black & Decker is giving away a ReadyWrench™ every week! Visit the Black & Decker ReadyWrench™ Team, click enter, complete the form and enter code RWR 190 (to let them know I sent you) and you’re entered! No purchase necessary to enter or win.

Full Disclosure: I accepted an offer to join the Black & Decker New Products Team and as a result, received the product described above for evaluation. I did not receive any additional compensation for participating in this program.

More Holiday Thoughts

The holidays are filled with hustle and bustle with nary a break in sight. And, if you’re a dedicated DIYer, you’re no doubt cranking on a project, all the while working against the calendar. (Unless you're me and let the mother totally wimped you out of even trying to finish the bathroom this year.)

Maybe you haven’t even had time to put a tree up yet. (Whew! That one we've got covered.)

Well, Lowe’s may be able to help you out by giving you a chance to trim the tree without dragging out a single ornament. With their Super Elftacular site, you can decorate the tree and then share it with your friends and family via email, Twitter or Facebook.

You get all the fun of hanging ornaments (with the help of elves on a variety of creative machinery) without the mess.

And, neither cats nor kids can wreck this tree! While we're on the subject of wrecks ...

As if their version of Bohemian Rhapsody wasn't enough, the Muppets are back again! This time, it's Beaker, the Swedish Chef, and my personal favorite, Animal, giving us The Carol of the Bells.
If you can watch either of these and not just totally laugh yourself silly you truly have NO sense of humor.

And my pity.

Thanks to Dominik at Fall of Because for posting Carol of the Bells on his blog!

Holiday Odds and Ends

With the charity program behind me, I can focus now on my own holiday tasks.
It occurred to me over the weekend that I’ve mailed only a handful of Christmas cards. I need to remedy that as Christmas is just a few days away! I also have to get a package in the mail to Taz – something that got lost in the shuffle that was Friday.

***

The mother and I did some shopping on the way home from our friends’ the other night and managed to find a few things for next Christmas. Many stores are already starting massive markdowns and I feared that, based on the slim inventory I’ve seen this season, there will be few bargains to be had on the day after Christmas this year.

My godmother and her daughter, neither of whom are versed in advance planning, have been scouting local stores for a “Pop the Pig” game for my 8-year-old cousin. Even though the mother had asked several times if there was anything else they needed since both she and I had been shopping regularly the past few weeks, I heard about this game for the first time last night.

I tried to find it online. And I did. (It looks kind of fun, too!) The only catch: the shipping cost to get the game before Christmas was nearly THREE TIMES its price! Initially, that meant a $30 game would cost more than $80 to ship. Digging further, I found Amazon’s deadline a little more lax, bringing shipping down to just over $65. WHAT?!

Well, it isn’t like these kids (she has a 10-year-old brother) aren’t getting a department store already, so I think it’s safe to say they won’t miss it. Much.

Thanks to Vicki at NotSo SAHM for trying to help me out, especially since she’s got plenty of madness going on at her house already after being snowed in.

***

The mother and godmother were talking about things they wanted as kids but never got. For the mother, it was a “real” dollhouse. I didn’t hear what my godmother missed out on.

For me, it was a swingset. I’ve always loved swings. Always. Other than that, Christmas morning never held any real disappointments. I was miserably spoiled – and I knew it.

Today, knowing what I know about our circumstances at the time and what the mother went through to make all that happen, I appreciate it even more. I think it's this understanding that, more than good upbringing or even real altruism, drives my elfdom each year.

My New Friend

Our friends that we celebrated the holidays with yesterday got a new dog last year. Since they came to us last year -- sans dog -- we didn't get to meet him. That changed yesterday.

He's a darling Boxer who, initially was very frightened when we arrived. He was skittish and tried to run off but his pet parents blocked all the exits. I felt bad because I don't like for anything to be that afraid. But, eventually, the tide turned.


And I ended up with this: a 65-pound lap dog. Ozzie would've been SO jealous!

He IS such a sweetie. And he DID try to get in the car as we were leaving. But he is so loved by his new family, I know that would not have worked out.


But it might have been fun to see him torture Toby. Just for a little while.

Dodging the Bullet

Our first Christmas celebration, which was yesterday, was more than 50 miles from home. That doesn't sound like much to those of you who drive that regularly. But, it's about three times the average distance anyone at This D*mn House is accustomed to driving in a single sitting.

And to the mother, weather means everything. She won't go down the street if it's snowing at all. She barely will leave the house if it's raining. So I watched the weather with great interest the past few days as the storm that hammered the east sent a little rain/snow/sleet/ice into the St. Louis metro to close out the week.

We got only rain which, with the dropping temps, resulted in a bit of ice here and there. The roads, however, remained clear. We had a relatively uneventful trip there and back, except for one incident where a semi nearly ran us off the road as we entered the highway. (This same truck nearly slammed into two other cars as the driver drifted into other lanes once we were on the highway.)

I've seen the footage from out east and am feeling SO lucky that all we saw were some grassy areas and cars for sale covered with a light snow. Everyting else remained clear. I HATE snow so I feel very sorry for all of you stuck dealing it. Hope you were able to get plenty of supplies to deal with it in the meantime!