Driving in the Slow Lane - I like it!

Who knew getting a new puppy would be so exhausting! But I must say I am having a blast. I keep waiting for him to get big like all my other puppies in the past. We had to put two 2X4 boards in my garage so Winston could climb up the step into the house and I have two pillows on the floor by the couch so he can jump off whenever he wants. I pissed him off a few times putting him on the floor when he didn't want to be there. He snuggles good during prime time tv - snoozing in my lap and he's just discovered that the house is an in-door race track.

Yukon is flooded, my plumbing is not wanting to drain and I am hoping that I don't have snake the pipes. I have had no problems till all this rain. Keep you fingers crossed that we have a few dry days and I shower starts draining right (furthermore, do you know how hard it is to potty train in the rain? I need the rain to go away - sorry Sarah, rain bad!).

Work is a lot better now the Graphic Artist is here and doing jobs that once were assigned to me. It's freeing me up for the other stuff I like better. I am not sure what she thinks of us right now, but we gave her a big dose of the insanity we ooze at a department meeting where we all at one point or another got a little caddy. Hopefully, she hasn't started looking for employment elsewhere.

I've had a few new comers to my blog-land - welcome to the dark side! I don't blog as much as I once did but do occasional tap out a few lines. Winston's not big on me sitting at the computer much and honestly he's too much fun right now - blogging suffers, but I'll try harder in the future.

Hey Kim, what's the deal? Sometimes I like to drive in the left land. The right one gets boring all the time.

More Tears than Fears

I am so excited! Did you hear the news? Tears for Fears is getting back together! Did I just date myself? In college, I thought they were one of the greatest bands. I prefer their first album (yes, darn it, I said album) The Hurting. The college memories came flooding back when I heard the news of their reunion - then like a slap upside the head, reality hit, I am old.

bummer!

Life is Good

Winston and I are having a ball! Well, he could do without the collar but other than that he seems happy. He is learning more and more each day and I don't think he appreciates the word "NO." He did a dance yesterday when I told him no to chewing on my shoes and then ran over and tossed his baby around.

He's not sure about the rain - I couldn't get him passed the garage door on his own this morning. The sky was falling and he wasn't gonna have anything to do with that!

Work is work and really doesn't matter much when you have a new baby waiting for you to come home. We have a new graphic artist in the office, who is really nice. Hopefully, she can start relieving me of the jobs I acquired through necessity but really don't have the technical skills for.

It's bedlam week, I can't wait for the game. Oh by the game, Winston watches football too (I actually think its the crowd noise that gets his attention but it cute none the less).

Winston is doing battle with the big bad stuff moose.

Winston is getting rather annoyed with me and the camera.

This is my new roommate, Winston, the Prime Minister.

Winston Moves In!

Dad and I took a trip to Blanchard on Saturday and came home with a new addition. His name is Winston and he's six weeks old. He is the smallest puppy I've ever had and am afraid I am going to hurt him. He's a Beagle!

His true personality hasn't come out yet. He's just trying to figure out what the hell has happened to him - one minute he's hanging out with his brothers and sisters and the next some crazy people have put him in this big thing for 45 minutes and he hasn't seen anyone he knows since.

I'll keep you posted on all the Winston news as it breaks and will post some pics as soon as I get some. Oh, by the way, Seamus is confused as all get out as to what that wee one is!

Yes I am Lost Too

Okay, I am addicted to Lost - my thoughts are they are no longer on Earth? Who agrees with me? A man that couldn't walk now does - yep, they've been abducted and taken to a different planet for observation.

I am getting a dog! There I've declared my intention now to make up my mind as to what kind. I am toying with the idea of a getting a Jack Russell or Beagle. Since I have a short fence an Irish Setter or Dalmatian is out of the question. I do however have a very large back yard that would be good for either the Jack or Beagle. My sister tells me that Jack Russells aren't good with other dogs, since they want all the attention (I can't have that since I babysit Seamus every time mom and dad go to Vegas). I also hear that Beagles bark all the time and aren't good neighbors - torn, what to do? I will not get a taco bell dog, poodle, shit-zu, lasa apsa, any sissy dog like that. I can't afford or find a French Bull Dog, which are adorable! AAAARRRRGGGG! Any ideas, anyone?

Used lungs for sale, I don't want them anymore

The name Walking pneumonia is an oxy-moron! When you've got it your not walking anywhere! Your laying on the couch, hacking out a lung and wish the slow death you are experiencing would happen already! Needless to say, I am sick and royally pissed about it.

Seamus Moves to Yukon

I've had the little man (Seamus) this week. I am so proud of him! Buying this house has made all the difference - no pee-ing in my car, on my bed or running around the house crying while carrying his baby running from room to room. He loves my backyard and it's next to impossible to get him to come in. Monday was horrible for me because he is quite capable of jumping the fence, I was so stressed out worrying that he'd figure that out. So, I came home at lunch and found him asleep by the gate. I am so glad that he hasn't figured out that he can jump!

On the TV front, yeah Chip and Kim - enough said! Colin, I fear, is the next Scot Peterson.

Work has been nuts but hey, that's the norm. Around 4:15 I filled my coffee cup again, if that tells you anything. If my printer doesn't deliver my business cards soon, I fear there will be a revolt! I rarely go 4 hours without someone calling asking if their cards are in. I realize it has taken a very long time but what I want to know is if they are less of a person without cards? Do business card make you a real person or something? Aaarrggg! It's not my fault 3 printers refused to do the printing before I found someone that would!

Shaken Not Stirred

Okay, let's get it over with....I drove into the frigerator! Done laughing? The poor thing just rocked back and forth and every thing inside was thrown all over the place. Okay, you can stop laughing now.

I got two used books in the mail today - woo hoo! RF Delderfield is my favorite author and I found these two books on Amazon.com used book section, since most of his books are no longer in print. One of these books, I didn't even know existed. I thought I'd found a good list of his books but it didn't include Stop the Winner. It's always like Christmas when I get books in the mail. Hey, Friend Shana, it may be a book for you too - only 298 pages, unlike his normal 1,200 (just teasing).

Work has been an unbelievable week of heavy lifting. Last Wednesday, we moved Co-worker T into our suite of offices and moved the mail room into his former office. Then on Thursday, I received more than 20,000 permanent record folders that I had to count out and organize (students across OKC are cursing my name now). To top things off, 11,000 student parent handbooks were delivered, again I began tossing boxes and counting books. By Friday I will look like Xena Warrior Princess!

On the world scene, I about panicked when I heard that idiot in North Korea blew something up that caused a mushroom cloud - remember my Army Nephew is in South Korea. How do such evil people get in positions of power? It's beyond me....to tired to ponder that anymore. Also, how about that KGB Russian President wanting to take away elected positions in towns and cities and make them appointed positions? Does anyone see a little Stalin in the making? When he reconstructs the gulags or begin purges again - be afraid!

Enough for now.

The Sloth Has To Go Back To Work

(whimper) It's Monday night and the thought of going to work tomorrow is just dreadful! I did absolutely nothing of import this weekend and it felt good! I didn't realize that one could lay on the couch so much but I proved it possible.

I enjoyed the OU - Bowling Green game. It's good that football is back. Our offense looked good but I felt the defense lack a little. I'll reserve judgment for later in the season. Go Sooners.

Okay, knew it would happen...I closed the new garage door on the back of my car, thankfully that protection piece where when it hits something it goes back up protected my paint job. Before you roll out of your chair laughing at me, you need to understand that my itty bitty car barely fits in the garage. I wanted to leave some room near the washer so that I wouldn't have to squeeze. I guess I left a little too much room. Oh well, I warned everyone.

My political news watch was supplanted by Hurricane Frances. Living in tornado alley doesn't seem so bad after all. I do feel for all the Floridians especially now that Hurricane Ivan is headed their way.

As Arnold Says "I am a Republican"

As I sit here listening to Dick Chaney speak and reflecting on the conversation I just had with my Army nephew, I can't understand how anyone can vote for the Flip Flopper aka John Kerry. My nephew is just now able to vote, 19 years old, and is terrified that Kerry will be elected. He said "if he wins, I am so screwed." I tried to dispell his fear by saying that the Republican Congress will negate Kerry's stupidity, but I too worry for him, as a military person.

At 19 years old, I didn't give a rip who was up for election. I didn't vote until the first Bush re-election campaign. Kerry has cause my 19 year old to actively watch a political campaign. Something's wrong there.

This year my vote for Bush is in honor of my late uncle who did fight in the Vietnam War and never betrayed his fellow solders and my young Army Nephew, the future of America's defense.

Did anyone hear Zell's speech? Wow! He really lit into Kerry - good for him! Stand up for your family and Nation! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

Enough for now!

Where's Dumas When You Need Him!

I think I've hit writer's block. Trying to decide what to blog about is starting to thwart my abilities to be witty. Work today was okay, things are slowing down for the moment so I am able to catch up on this and that, which has a calming effect on me. I gave my Mint, Grapes, and "that funny bush" a trim after work and it was rather relaxing (except for the mosquitoes that were dive bombing me). Dad edged my yard with his weed eater - not the right tool for the job but hey, it worked.

He did a really nice thing for me today and never told me .... but mom did. He went to the garage door store and double checked my order, it's around $700 smackers and it made me nervous ordering it without his mechanical expertise. He approved, whew!

My love of books extends only so far as a good book! I am working on finishing my current book but have been at it for more than a month now. It's not very engaging and I am struggling. I hate that, especially since I don't like to move to another book until I finish my current one. I am frustrated that I have only 50 pages to go to finish the darn thing and I keep putting it off. Aaarrrgg!

Enough for now.

Hurricane Charley Hit Here Too

It's been more than two weeks since I last blogged and every day of those two weeks as I sat on my couch I would think "I need to blog," and every day I promised myself to write an entry tomorrow. So let's called today "tomorrow."

It has been a whirlwind at work. Co-worker T and I rolled out a new website for the District - streamlining our focus to one audience and making it look a whole lot sharper. I gotta give props to T for the fantastic design but it wasn't easy transferring everything over. If T wasn't so good at website design - we'd might have had an easier "Back to School" transistion, thanks T! LOL. Among the mix of trying to redesign our site, I had the mess of trying to get the Student Parent Handbook (in English, Spanish and Vietnamese) to print, pressing the report card committee to work faster in deciding what would and wouldn't be included, getting more than 40 Back to School letters printed and to the mailing house to process and mail (I don't think that company ever wants to hear from me again) and taking my co-worker L to hospital after he tried to 3 hole punch his finger with the monster drill press just to mention the highlights.

On the home front things are shaping up nicely now that I am finally getting over the evil poison ivy. The backyard is cleared of all the unwanted saplings, honey suckle and poison ivy. I now have doors everywhere there were supposed to be doors (the previous owner removed the backdoor to the garage-don't ask I don't know why). I've ordered my new garage door and opener that will be installed on Wednesday. Pray for my little car, I've never parked in a garage before. For the time being, I think we're going to take a break from starting anymore home improvements - I'm pooped!

The Republic National Convention starts tonight and am I ever excited. Rudy is now speaking. I love Presidential campaigns! That would be my dream job. I love the Swift Boat for Truth ads, especially the one that uses Kerry sorry-ass Senate hearing testimony. How can anyone support a man who turned his back on his fellow solders who were serving in a war and accuse them of such horrible things. I believe in free speech as well as taking responsibility for the things you say. If you want to protest something - go for it! But be ready for me to judge you according to your actions. I judge Kerry unfit for command!

Enough for now.

Perks in the Chaos Called Work

Last Friday, Janie brought me a handmade necklace. Why? I really don't know but it was sweet. Monday, Shirley brought me a ceramic knick-knack for helping her update her forms. Tuesday, Linda brought me two bags of Doritos. Why? Because I jokingly told her she owed me a bag of Doritos in an email because her project was so hard! When I saw those giant bags of chips I died laughing. I am just amazed at how sweet these people have been, they've really made a crazy time better!

The chaos of back to school work is so intense that it's made me a little silly. When people come in and say "I need it now" - I nearly laugh in their face. I do my best but there is simply not enough hours in the day to get it all done. In the middle of my jammed packed day, my calendars where delivered, now I have to figure out how to get 25,000 counted out and delivered among the thousand of other things. Darn that printer for being timely!

Individual parent and staff letters for every school have to go out, student parent handbook has to be finished and printed, webpages have to be created and updated, business cards need to go to bid and print, report cards need to be finished and get bided and printed and other unforeseen tasks - yeah, I'm not gonna make it... c'est la vie!

Potpourri of the Mind

I am so torn. Is marriage a good thing or not? You can read Ice's blogs and it's good but then you turn on the TV and men are offing their pregnant wives? What's with that? Divorce is an acceptable out these days, why kill your spouse? I don't get it.

This week has been wickedly busy and it's only Tuesday. I am so overloaded that I barely can see straight. There are things not getting done and won't be done on time but I can't force a Superior to get on the ball - I love email [documentation that I've done my part].

My back is well again but now I face the "hurt back" hang-over. I had to eat every four hours [yes, I gained] and now I am trying to get my appetite back to eating normally. I swear that I am going to die by 10 a.m. due to the cravings. I'll be glad when I get over that and hopefully get my weight back in control.

My Army Nephew was IM-ing with his mom the other day and got on an anti-Kerry tirade for more than an hour. I am so proud! Another young Republican in the making.

Okay, this blog has been one tangent after another so I'll sign off for now.

I Need Sunshine

Where have I been? Right here, hiding in my new house curled up on the couch. I haven't been in the mood to blog and to avoid posting something lame I took a blogging vacation. Am I back? Don't know yet. Work has been very busy and I am flat exhausted when I get home. The weather has been gray, which also makes my mood gray.

I am thrill to say that I had my very first house guest. Friend Shana came to visit and it was just what I needed. When my back went out so did my temper. She allowed me to forget about the pills, the ache and all the other stuff that goes with it. I hope the flood that hit Dallas missed her area of town.

The DNC has provided me some comic relif but has also terrified me at the same time. Do they really believe all that crap? Okay enough  of that.

I have been attempting my faux happiness lately and haven't been totally succeeding at it. Friend Shana and I discussed my refusal to be depressed but when I am hurt or sick and the weather is icky, my force field to repel that depression monster is not to strong. Oh! not to mention the gross poundage that I gained from having to eat every time I had to take medicine these last three weeks.

Must think happy thoughts! Must think happy thoughts! Must think happy thoughts!

Friend Shana Comes to Town

It's Friday and I have made it! I am almost back to my norm, just a little tinge that let's me know my back is still not happy. It's like when you are sick you fall into a void of nothing-ness and making it hard to blog.

Friend Shana is coming to see my new place on Saturday - I am excited. We have been rather busy this year and haven't been able to connect since she moved from OKC to Big D. Of course we do the e-mail thing but it's not the same as the face to face conversations over deserts (our norm was to retreat to Pioneer Pies for bitch sessions).
 
Work is work and there's nothing exciting to announce. The back to school crunch is in full swing - didn't we just say "yeah, school's out"? Where'd the summer go? Only five weeks left and I am feeling the time slipping away. The Boss was on vacation this week, so it was a good week - especially since I had pain killers to make it all the better.

Back to Blogging

Although I feel like I should have died by now, I still live albeit in great pain but alive none the less. The problem with back pain is that sitting up is just as painful as standing. The only way to reduce the pain is to lay as flat as I can on my tummy. It's kind of hard to blog in that position. Keep your fingers crossed, I will attempt working a full day tomorrow for the first time in two weeks - I will be armed with pain killers, I have high hopes! I am walking better and the pain is manageable now. Thanks to all for your kind words - I expect to be as "normal" as dana gets real soon - these episodes just take time to heal. 

One good thing about my "episode" is that it came at a time when my homeowners insurance called and demanded that all the ivy had to be removed from my house by July 12th. We had most of it off anyway but it just put us on a deadline. I was unable to finish cleaning the flowerbed, so mom and dad did it for me. In the process mom got into some poison ivy or poison oak. She not real happy with me right now. LOL