Living Room Pt 2

My Grackle

As you may have read in my first Living Room post, I am in the process of redecorating my living room. I am almost done but still have to paint the trim. I painted this Grackle on the wall in the corner above my sectional couch. My husband has 4 bird feeders he fills daily. It is hard not to become a bird lover since we get soo many bird visitors. The Grackles have always been my favorite. When seen up close they are very colorful and shimmery. And I love that they also look just a little spooky with their large yellowish white eyes and dark pupils.

Dogs and Cats

A favorite co-worker of mine showed this to me and I found it extremely funny. I hope you enjoy.

**Excerpts from a Dog's Diary**

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

**Excerpts from a Cat's Diary**

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. Bastards! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now....

That's my Cokee, she certainly doesn't look like a prisoner to me!

Natural Nails?

As you may or may not have read yesterday, I went on a shopping trip with my nine year old daughter E. I should tell you all that I LOVE SHOPPING! I have always loved to shop, clothes shop, furniture shop, grocery shop, cold medicine shop, you name it, I will enjoy shopping for it. I don't shop over my budget, so I guess I am not a shopaholic, but I am a spender. Fortunately my husband is a great saver and very frugal with his income.

First we met up with grandma at my favorite mall. I brought along my Xanax with me which I take for anxiety, but promised my husband I would only take it if I reeaaaallly needed it and if I wasn't going to drive for a while. So as soon as I saw my mother I excused myself to the ladies room and took it! There are many reasons why I have this anxiety around my mother, but truthfully, after a short time with her, you would be begging me for some.

Mom treated us to lunch then let me shop all by myself while she took E with her. Wow, a whole hour of shopping by myself. I didn't mention that I took T's stroller with me in the mall, lots of people looked into it expecting to see a baby, what? Well, I hadn't been shopping in a mall in a very long time and was planning on buying a lot of stuff. As if I am going to carry my packages around or keep walking back to my van to drop them off. HUMPH! I was on a time constraint people.

One hour all by myself so I rush off to H&M, adrenaline pumping, I just know I am going to find exactly what I am looking for....one hour later, I found lots of cute shirts, a hat, gloves, knee high socks, for T and E. But what about Mama? I did find a cute pair of pants but that's it. So I rush out of the store and tried to make it to some shoe stores because I obviously needed to buy a pair of boots to go with these new pants. No luck. As I walked through the mall a strange thing kept happening. Every 10 stores or so a good looking man with a British accent would stop me and ask if I "wore my nails natural?" HUH? I was rushing, I said "Of course I do, I am a nurse, I have to" then he/they would start to look at my hands. How embarrassing, I quickly hid my ugly, natural nails as to not offend, and I quickly ran off. I guess these guys were trying to sell a new nail product. But I have no time to blog, I mean shop, so I rushed to the meeting place to meet E and grandma,Target. For sure I could find at least a new winter coat or boots or shirt to go with the new pants, well, a little luck happened and I found a shirt and these 'above the knee' tights that would go perfect under the new pants, then I could just wear my ballet slippers with the pants. See, the pants are those cuffed, just 'below the knee' wool plaid pants, sooo cute but would look very cute with high cut boots. I know this because I watch fashion shows on The Today Show. Can you tell my thoughts were getting a wee bit manic by that time?

In the hour it took me to buy one pair of pants, E had bought two shirts, jammies, shoes and a gift for a baby shower we went to today! Bitch! I was able to shop a little more by myself in Target and got my own baby gifts.

The reason I had to rush off, was because I had to meet my dad and his girlfriend at Costco, our usual meeting place, at 3 pm. I love the underwear at Costco, don't look at this blog like that, they are good sturdy underwear, perfect for everyday use. I also drooled over the lap top computers......bought printer ink refills, a DVD for hus with a bunch of great stand-up comedian acts on it, drooled over the entire collection of hard cover Harry Potter books.....

Dad treated us to dinner at The Hometown Buffet, perfect for kids and overweight moms like me. Then we walked to Khols, where I found the perfect winter coat, it was a Vera Wang, black with an embroidered design, perfect length, and 25% off! I took it off the hanger and suddenly realized, it had SHORT SLEEVES! WTH! I have seen these cute but ridiculous coats on TV, but I think I would look really funny in one, dead of winter, 20 below....So I put it back.

On our way to Khols I noticed this store sign.

Ain't it the truth!

Slippery Road Driving Skills Needed

This barn is located at one end of our road. At least once a year my husband drives his truck into it when the road is slippery. Luckily he doesn't do any damage, to the barn or himself, because the snowbank usually slows him down.


That's all I got today. I am heading out the door with E for a fun day of shopping out of state in a real mall. I will catch up on reading tomorrow. I apologize for any misspelled or confusing comments I may have left last night. I had about 4 hours sleep and no nap! Have a nice Saturday.

Harry and Hairy

I really hope I don't forget to post one day in November, here is my first Nablopomo post.

I hope everyone had a great Halloween. We had wonderful warm weather, perfect for trick-or-treating. We drove to a friends house from then next town over, because if we stayed in our town we would have to drive from house to house. Some do that, but I love to walk house to house especially in great weather.

Our friends dressed up as Dog the Bounty Hunter and a Voodoo Mama complete with Voodoo dolls and pins. E and I dressed up as Hippies, T was the cutest Harry Potter EVER, and Hus refused to dress up, as usual. My husband didn't have a great experience with Halloween growing up. He lived in the country, the baby of 6 kids, his mom didn't drive and his dad was too busy (drinking) to drive him. He said his older brothers and sisters took him into town once but that was it. I am glad he is wiling to come with us trick-or-treating and aside from refusing to wear a costume, he was in good spirits last night.

I have to say that the candy wasn't great, we mostly got Smarties and Tootsie Rolls, very little chocolate. WTH! Not one Snickers mini or Three Musketeer, my favorites. I guess that could also be considered good, because all the less for mama to eat.

One of the houses that always goes to the extreme of decorating and partying on Halloween was serving some adult treats besides candy. They had Jello shots and chili! I missed those because T was too scared to go to that house. They had a fake autopsy happening on the picnic table and smoke machines. He also freaked just a little when kids or adults had on scary masks, and would stand behind me for protection. I probably would have declined the Jello because even though there was little traffic in the streets I had to keep my wits about me and make sure the little ones didn't run into the road without looking.

My hus usually says "no" when I ask if I can post pics of the kids. I asked about the following pic and he said "OK". Maybe he got sick of me asking or he thought the costumes made the kids unrecognizable. I might remove them tomorrow. So look while you can. He had noooo problem showing my hairy hippie leg!

Mama's Hairy Hippie Leg

Harry and Hippie