Sweet!

The jetted tub in the downstairs (now guest room bathroom) works! After cleaning and painting we decided to see what items worked and what items didn't. Looks like everything works... even the jetted tub. I'm stoked! Can't wait for a jetted bath!

Living in a Snow Globe

I'm off to Michigan where I hear it's snowing, cold, and blustery. I don't think I'm quite ready for this. I think the hall closet has eaten all of my gloves, hats and scarves. Maybe I can wear them all on the plane so I don't have to pack them... I can be a little Nanuck! Heck.. I'm even still in flipflops. Good thing I'm wearing someone else's boots. It's bad enough I have to be on the road by 5 AM, now I have to dress like an overstuffed cartoon character. Since I'm short and a midge overweitght all the extra layers make me look like a roly poly. Lovely!

Hey.. where did it go?

Our cat Gizmo loses all self control this time of year. This is his third Thanksgiving and each year we have had to institute little kitty time out while we are cooking, eating or even looking at the turkey. I think it's because he was just an itty bitty when the first Thanksgiving came around and not only did everyone feed him turkey but his feet never touched the ground. Since he had been abandoned in a trash bin we ended up with him because he was too small for the Humane Society. When he experienced Thanksgiving he was totally blown away. There was more food than he had dreamed. Well three years later he still goes nuts if there is turkey anywhere close to the house. If he is not given turkey scraps he will become desperate and take his own. Beware of the Turkey Stalker!

TURKEY

Tonight we are cooking a turkey breast, spatzel, pumpkin pie, and of course cranberries. We decided that even though we were breaking tradition that we still wanted turkey sandwiches.... so tonight is turkey and we'll eat sandwiches all week!

Bachelor Ways

I don't know if it's because I'm flying out for 5 days or what but the hubby has started to regress a little lately. Today when I went into the kitchen I noticed a definite sardine smell. I looked all around and did not see anything so I began to wonder. Upon questioning the other half he did admit to eating sardines for lunch and sharing some with the cat. But..... it still shouldn't smell as bad as it did. The mystery was solved when I opened the refrigerator. He put the can of sardines in the refrig without covering it. I couldn't believe it. At least put it in a baggie or cover with anything to contain the smell from taking over. It definitely made me flash back to his fraternity days when I would catch some of the guys eating pizza from the cardboard box on the top of the trash. Hello!

Breaking Tradition

Dan and I are smashing the barriers and going out to eat as a couple for Thanksgiving at an expensive French restaurant. While friends are sort of miffed as to why we would choose to go out to eat instead of doing the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with friends or family... we are actually uber excited! I think it sounds perfect!

Just For You

This picture is for anyone that was in love with the TV show David the Gnome (not sure if that's the right name). It was a great show about twenty years ago and he always rode through the forest on a fox. Every time I see a fox I think of David. Sorry this guy isn't looking at the camera but I was so surprised to be this close that I was late focusing.

Whoa!

Someone is getting ready for the big game. Having attended Ohio State the weekend before Thanksgiving is instilled in my life forever! The football season can be terrible as long as we win one game (of course we want to win them all but only one really counts!) I guess it's time to dig out the T-shirt, the earrings, the singing coasters .....oh and of course the CD tape of The Ohio State fight song so we can do script Ohio in the living room.

Miss You

I only spent a week with Frank and then he moved to his new apartment. I find that I miss him a lot. In only one short week I got used to talking to him, playing with him, and having him follow me and the other cats in the house around. I now realize that I would never be able to be one of those foster people that could take care of kittens, dogs, etc. for the Humane Society or rescue league. I am way too much of a softy and I bond to the animals way too quickly. Am I turning into the cat lady?...you know the one... the little old lady that has a ton of cats and leaves her whole estate to them!

Unbelievable

For some odd reason the little rose plant on the table has started to bloom again. I thought the plant was almost a goner and then it ups and blooms. Looks beautiful.

Dinosaur Toes

Ok... I wanted to stay healthy (somewhat) but I really wanted chocolate too. Then it was the Ah-ha moment when I remembered about the snack I used to give my kids when they were small. A peeled orange slice dipped into melted chocolate bark. Yes! So yummy! One craving gone.

Holiday Sales

Tonight was the beginning of the meetings for the new sale items at Bath & Body Works. There were some fabulous gift sets and new fragrances. I won a pair of super soft socks so I felt the meeting was well worth missing some football.

It's happening!

I lucked out and due to a delayed move I am getting my guest bedroom/bath painted this weekend. It's actually wonderful because then I can get the carpet cleaned (trying that rather than new carpeting right now) and put the guest room together for Grandma! The goal is just the bedroom and then I can work on the closet later. No matter what... I'm moving forward.

Family Members

OK... we all have them.. those weird wacky family members that sort of kindle a little smile in your heart. You know you love them... you just can't take them out in public.

Made My Day!

Imagine my surprise on a dreary day working at home and hearing the doorbell ring. Left on my doorstep is a long red box. Not only did I not know what was in the box, I assumed it was left for me to deliver to the neighbors. Upon closer inspection I realized that the box was for me...then I realized that it was flowers. Since my husband is not one to usually send flowers (he will bring them home occasionally though) my mind began racing to figure out just who might have sent them and why. I loved it when I found out the flowers were from Nicole and Clay and the brood just for Happy Fall. The flowers now adorn my coffee table and look stunning.

Travel Gnome

The little travel gnome has been traveling with me from place to place. He especially likes to run around bookshelves and kitchens of a condo or hotel rooms or other people's houses. I notice that he torments cats when no one is watching. Go travel gnome! He's thinking that it is time for another trip. I might have to start loaning him out since I don't have any plans to go anywhere.

Score!

I am amazed but I literally picked all of the correct football trams this weekend. Go figure! I don't know a whole lot about football so this is such a fluke. I think I just won a free burrito!

Current Life

For the next couple of months I am dedicating myself to living my current life! I am not going to relive what has already happened or what might be in the future. I want to see people and events as new and acknowledge the changes we have all accomplished. I want to experience the "now" to the fullest I can. I am starting today to build new pathways in my life that are based on healthy actions for me. Events don't have to be different or new...I will just be fully experiencing them through clear filters and not through past expectations.

I can still work towards goals for the future but I will fully appreciate each step along the path. (That means you may get some strange Christmas stocking gifts as I'm totally experiencing my environment and interacting with it!)

Newest family Member

Frank is the newest member of my extended family! In all fairness he does not have red eyes and is not really a devil cat! I caught up with him in the parking lot and took the picture from an angle. He was so good not to struggle and bolt while I was trying to take a picture in the dark. He seems perfectly happy living with Natalie and Scott. In secret I think he plays all of their video games while they are at work.

Highest I've been for Awhile

With the snow starting in this area I probably won't be able to hike up to this elevation for awhile. it was fun to catch one of the last days open for a hike. Cold...but worth it!

I love this cat!

Gizmo has upended the pirate ship and is watching to see if anyone will play with him. I love this cat!

Flaming Volcano

It all started innocently enough as a simple movie for ladies Night Out. It ended up past midnight sipping a Flaming Volcano drink at some closed restaurant that invited us in from the cold. Sometimes reality is just a little too strange!

What?

Is this the biggest freakin cat you have ever seen? This is another jacked picture but I thought it was strange enough to put up. It's like having a hairy little kid run around your house. Heck you could dress him up and pass him off as the kid of Big Foot. All he needs is a t-shirt and backwards baseball cap!

Difficult

Did you ever notice just how hard it is to get up in the morning when the cat decides to snuggle with you? Every morning Abigail comes and snuggles when she hears me move. It makes getting up an extremely huge deal because in my book there is nothing better than a snuggling cat!

P.S. Be sure to vote!!!!!

Just playing around and seeing if this works. I am trying this new site for blogging... as well as keeping my other stuff going. Keep on blogging!

Exercise

Yes, I am trying to walk, lift weights, use the elliptical, do Wii fit or some type of exercise every day! I am hoping to tone my body up not only to be healthy but to get in a little bit of shape before the cruise in January. Ahhhh... the cruise! I have never been on a cruise before so I can only imagine all the nice things that people tell me about. I am excited to have this opportunity. It's our 38th wedding anniversary and thought that a cruise would be fun to do as a celebration. Looks like I'll have to think summer clothes in the middle of a Colorado winter. Hmmmmmmm...... Hope I look better than the hamster...but then the hamster is cute!

Nablopomo

I am trying something new.... not major but new none-the-less. I have signed up with nablopomo to try and blog everyday. I actually blog on myspace and here so I do blog almost everyday but I'm going to try and blog on this site everyday. I am not quite sure why I am doing this but I'm following an instinct. If nothing else it will probably force me to take more pictures since this is the site I tend to post pictures on when I do post them.

Pumpkins

We actually made Jack-O-Lanterns this year. By looking at the picture can you guess which one is mine and which one is Dan's? Yes, Dan's looks like an alien or weird guy from another planet. With the heat it turned out to look like a pumpkin with a harelip! Mine is so happy!!! Yes, I'm not a very scary person. In fact I am refusing to see the new 3-D scary movie that is coming out soon. Please take pity on Dan and invite him to attend with you...I'm not going!