Define: Statesman

Sitrep: 1x Arms, 1x Abs
Goal: 2x Arms, 2x Abs

Instead of blogging yesterday I felt the need to shake up my blog a bit. After several hours of frustrated attempts to modify one blog layout to fit my desires, I switched to this one and tweaked it. My apologies to those of you who might have checked in yesterday during the "experimental" portion of the "design". I like this, although the orange is already getting to me. Too fall-ish, I expect. So don't be surprised if it changes up this weekend.

Around 4 am this morning I blundered onto a show about Lincoln on the History Channel. It was different than any I've seen before, and painted quite a different picture of Lincoln and his wife, etc, than I'm used to. Not necessarily bad, either. Just more detailed, and a more human view. As in Lincoln, the Man, then Lincoln the President. Not just Lincoln the President. It made me admire him that much more and think to myself that I really need to read up on this extraordinary president.

It also reinforced for me that politics have not changed all that much. Twenty-four hour television and always on Internet just make it seem so. Everyone is so inundated now, there's this constant barrage of information we have no time to really process or think about things as they occur. Different, I really think, that when information was limited to newspapers and a few radio stations.

Last weekend my sister and I spoke on the phone for quite awhile, and we got to talking about the upcoming presidential elections. With Obama's speech on race occurring just that week, naturally we got to talking about it, and Obama himself. Why are so many people responding to him the way they are? Is it just the message of hope? But there have been others with messages of hope that weren't received this way. Is it that he comes across so differently? Not part of the status quo? More dignified, more distinguished, somehow? Fresher? It's hard to express. And yet I'm not blind to his reported shortcomings; although the melee about his Pastor doesn't upset me as it has some. But that's a post in and of itself, so I'll save that for another day. I've read about his connections to that land thing. (Can't remember the guys name off hand). I've been reading up on his campaign style, tactics, ads. It's not that different from the others. And yet there's still this little something that keeps me going "hmmm." And looking at him some more.

Regardless of all that, I thought the speech was extremely impressive. I haven't heard anything so well written or well spoken by a politician in a long time. I'm still torn between him & Clinton, but was very impressed by the speech. It occurred to me during our discussion that that speech made him come across almost as a Statesman, not a Politician.

Statesman: a person who exhibits great wisdom and ability in directing the affairs of a government or in dealing with important public issues.*

Politician: a seeker or holder of public office, who is more concerned about winning favor or retaining power than about maintaining principles.**

"Politician, statesman refer to one skilled in politics. These terms differ particularly in their connotations; politician is more often derogatory, and statesman laudatory. Politician suggests the schemes and devices of a person who engages in (esp. small) politics for party ends or for one's own advantage: a dishonest politician. Statesman suggests the eminent ability, foresight, and unselfish patriotic devotion of a person dealing with (esp. important or great) affairs of state: a distinguished statesman." **

I can't think of anyone really that I would call a statesman. At least, not anyone current. President Carter comes to mind, but more for his actions after leaving office than during. I don't know much about his years in the Oval Office. What does that say about my government? Or about us as a people?

* statesman. Dictionary.com Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) Random House Inc http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/statesman (accessed: March 28, 2008).
**politician. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/politician (accessed: March 28, 2008).

Speed of light; ie, Who was that masked man?

Sitrep: 1x Arms, 1x Abs
Goal: 2x Arms, 3x Abs

I'm here, I'm okay, Dad's doing great last I heard, Dog needs treatment for something Vet will talk to me about when I get there at 5pm (if I get out of work on time) because he's in a major surgery right now, will someone PLEASE disconnect our phones at work, and I forgot I have a Big Brothers Big Sisters meeting tonight at 6pm on a topic I've been requesting for MONTHS so I kinda sorta haveta go, which gives me one hour from end of work to pick up the dog, talk to the vet, get the dog home, eat dinner, and get back to town. It's a small town, but this might be pushing it.

Oh, and my company bought our own office space today...here's the virtual tour: http://tours.justsnooping.com/2346401/?b=true

We're moving in April, only we have 2 board meetings in April and one of my big 3.5 day seminars that occupies 2 weeks of prep time. Can we say nightmare? ALthough I'm thrilled to have the new space, and I want an office with a window! Hoo-yah!!!!

Exhaustion

Goal: 3x Abs, 2x Arms
Sitrep: 1x Arms. Yesterday was a typo - I didn't do Abs. That was pure wishful thinking. [g]

Scully woke me up multiple times last night to be let outside. Just like the night before. I thought Sunday night it was from the food she got at my little's house. Easter goodies. Ham for sure. I turned around just in time to see a deviled egg (tons of mayo in it) sprinkled with paprika going into her mouth. sigh. Not sure who looked guiltier, Shanni or the dog!!! But that should be out of her system by now. The food, I mean. For the dog.

After the third time I let her out last night she got up on the bed and sat there looking all sad and pathetic. And trembly. She wouldn't lay down. After a few minutes she got off the bed and lay on her own. After the fourth or fifth (got hazy after awhile) she did the same thing. I think she's having some reaction to the meds she's on. I took her in last Monday for a follow up because on Sunday (a week ago) she had some funky seizure like thing going on. Vet thought it might be the Terbutaline (bronchodilator) so we took her off that. But she was still on 2 antibiotics & prednisone. sigh. Her re-check is tomorrow morning so that's good. I'm worried it's affecting her kidneys. She had that one flare up just over a year ago, and she'd been on lots of meds then too.

And Dad's going in right about now to get his new pacemaker with defibrillator. He's been in the hospital since Sunday night...just found out that yesterday evening. Looks like he's okay, and the pacemaker procedure is "routine" and the last one went without a hitch. It's just a nerve wracking day today. No wonder I'm exhausted!!! It shows in my BB and here, doesn't it? I can't type correctly to save my life today. Yikes.

No good books to read either. Finished Spymaster's Lady last night. Maybe I'll hit the UBS on the way home. See if they have the earlier Sandra Schwab The Lily Brand. Looked for it on Ama.zon but it's not in print??? Only available used. I was hoping to do the Amazon Prime free 2 day shipping. Guess I'll check locally first. And she has another book coming out in April - Bewitched. Yay. Amazon just says April 2008, B&N has it as a March release, available now new and used. Hastings has April 1 as the release date on its website. Hmmm. Maybe I'll call them and see if they're going to get it in. Probably not - they're lousy at having books in - but then again - that's where I found the one I just read. So miracles do happen!

I'm so going to stop now. Totally rambling 'cause I'm tired and stressed. (Like you hadn't guessed that!) I should probably try to get some work done today!

Books & Movies

Sitrep: 1x Abs
Goal: 3x Abs, 2x Arms
Check out Alden's blog today - great post. And definitely try the Perfect Pushup. If I can do it, so can you!

Lately I've been on quite a roll when it comes to books and movies. Knocking quite a few off my TBR (To Be Read) or TBW (To Be Watched) piles. So I thought I'd give some reviews:

Castle of the Wolf by Sandra Schwab - I picked this up due to a review posted on the readers bulletin board I go to. Well worth the money and the time. I liked it for several reasons:

1. Character Driven - well developed characters, can understand why they do what they do, no large cast of unnecessary-to-the story-line and just-there-for-spin offs characters
2. Set in Germany - unusual place setting for a Historical Romance
3. Shades of paranormal in it, but just shades. Wasn't about vampires or werewolves or whatever
4. Well written.
5. The hero/heroine didn't have that misunderstanding for three-hundred years thing keeping them apart. The heroine took action, made mistakes, etc. She wasn't TSTL (too stupid to live), either.

A definite Buy.

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Spymaster's Lady by Joanna Bourne - also purchased due to a recommendation from a friend & BB posts/reviews. Well worth it.

1. Character driven - definitely are seeing more in their heads than those stories that are more suspense/action than romance. The romance/character development is the primary story, the suspense/action is the vehicle showcasing the character development, the vehicle moving it along.
2. Again, no large cast of characters that are there only for amusement and for potential spin-off books. The characters that are there are there for a reason. Only one I find maybe more lacking in development, and a caricature or more of a stereotypical role is the bad guy they're running from. Reminds me of Chauvelin from The Scarlet Pimpernel.
3. Well written. I'm not rolling my eyes and flipping forward, skipping paragraphs.

A definite Buy - and I'm only half-way through it!

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Babel (starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett) - avoid this movie at all costs. Premise is great, execution is terrible.

1. Five minutes into the movie I figured they weren't going to a) start speaking in English and b) give me subtitles. So I turned them on myself. Not sure if the movie is intentionally supposed to be non-understandable for most of it...Doesn't work for me. If I want a foreign film with subtitles, that's what I'll rent. At the least, give me subtitles. I think they were aiming for it to be unintelligible unless in English, to give the watcher more of the feeling of being in the middle of this chaos...Doesn't work for me.
2. What was up with the Japanese family? Tenuous connection to the other 2 story lines at best, waste of time at worst. Did not like at all. Especially the 10-15 minute disco/club scene of nothing but flashing lights and dance music and bodies moving around...would have given a few people I know seizures (epileptic) & started giving me a headache. So I fast forwarded. Again, not sure why this was in there or what point they were making. That people are people and miserable the world over? Great. But what connection did they even have to the main story? Small, inconsequential. Should have ended up on the cutting room floor.
3. The Hispanic woman taking care of the kids. Had real issues with this because a) What illegal alien in their right mind would head back to Mexico for a wedding? Even if it is her son's wedding. She's an illegal. I don't think she'd do it, even if she did have her boss' kids with her. And b) If she did raise those kids from birth, why would the family just toss her aside because of this one mistake? Didn't buy it.
4. Didn't buy their miraculous rescue from the desert either. Or that the nephew never came back for her, that she started walking instead of waiting where he left her - at least until daylight so she could see the road. At least their story tied in more with the one in Morocco...these were the kids of the parents.
5. Didn't like the US government thinking it was a terrorist attack. Seriously. Out in the boonies where they were, with one shot at a tourist bus? What would be the point? I don't think the embassy would have gotten involved to the point of stopping the ambulance from picking them up. Would they even have been able to stop it anyway? And then to send in the helicopter? Give me a break. Americans get in trouble all the time overseas and the embassy's power is limited...Usually the can't do much more than get you a lawyer if you're in jail, get the Red Cross involved, maybe make a phone call...But hey, maybe that's just my take on it.
6. The actual Morocco storyline, which I thought from previews was the main point of the movie, was a backseat to everything else. I thought it was going to be more along the lines of Frantic starring Harrison Ford. Would have been better.

Don't buy, don't rent.

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The Last King of Scotland (Forest Whittaker) - AWESOME MOVIE.

1. Well acted, to say the least. Whittaker did an unbelievable job. No wonder he got an Oscar for the role.
2. This is a dark movie, a historical thriller. I'm not an expert on the time & place or Idi Amin, but I thought they did a masterful job of tying the fiction in with the historical facts. At the end I wasn't sure if the doctor was a real character or a fictional one. Watch the special features after the movie to find out. Definitely worth watching.
3. Well written and acted. Tense, believable, I could definitely see the doctor being taken in at first. Young, naive, newly in country. Oh yeah, it takes awhile to really get a sense of things when you're fresh in country. And after all, historically Idi Amin was popular with the people...until his madness and paranoia took full control.

Definite watch. Buy or Rent.

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I Am Legend (Will Smith) - Very good movie, if dark and depressing.

1. Good acting
2. Great special effects
3. Jump in your seat moments - mostly in the beginning.
4. End was kind of the usual blow 'em kind of thing, but overall it was a good movie.
5. Spoiler coming - don't read if you don't wanna know (The dog dies. For those of you that prefer to know those things in advance...like me.)

Definite watch. Rent.

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So that about sums up the last few weeks. I also spent inordinate hours this weekend watching History Channel & Discovery Channel doing "Easter" shows. Discovery's "In the Footsteps of Jesus" is worth watching. The History Channel's "Exodus Explained" is great. I love the historical & archaeological searches to prove/explain things that happened in the Bible. I've always thought the Bible was a fair history book of sorts.

Connections

Goal (M-Su): 3x Abs, 1x 15 mins Other/Any Exercise
Sitrep: 1x Abs

It really is all about the people you know, sometimes. Shanni is part of a gifted & talented program at her school, and they did an environmental awareness project last year called EARTH Action. They've won the 2007 President's Environmental Youth Award for Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY). (PEYA Program)

So they get to go to Washington D.C. for the ceremony, which is being held in the White House and hosted by Laura Bush. So she gets to meet the First Lady, and possibly even the President, from what we're told. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of the current administration. (Shocker, I'm sure) However, this is an awesome opportunity for a 12 year old. To be recognized at such a high level for hard work, and to meet the First Lady and possibly the President...Once in a lifetime opportunity! They get to do a summary presentation and everything. There's a social, the awards ceremony, and they're going to see some of the sights (Smithsonian, etc.)

Shanni is one of the top 2 students they want to go on the trip. Five students and two teachers are attending. We were told that there would be fundraising, and they didn't even let anyone know which kids were going until last Friday. Well, today Shanni's mom got the call that tickets had to be booked today. Insane. They don't have money for it, nor do they have a credit card. She also didn't know where to start to book the ticket. (They haven't traveled much by plane.)

I offered up use of my credit card, as we can get the money raised prior to the bill coming due, I'm sure. I've got a line out on a scholarship/financial aid through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the school is partially funding each child. Next I called my recently retired boss, who went back to the family business. Which just happens to be, with their most recent purchase of a local office, the largest travel agency in the state. They were able to get Shanni booked on the appropriate flights for $500.00....and they are willing to trade for my IT services. I'd already agreed to do consulting work on my own time for them, and we have an hourly rate set. We'd also discussed my working for airfare as another option since my family is all out of state. Which appeals to me more than cash, frankly. :) So we are looking good. They had originally told us we'd need $1000. But since we got the ticket about $200 cheaper than budgeted for...Now we need that much less.

I can't wait to hear back from BBBS to see how much we get from them. I love it when a plan comes together!!!!

And the day really just gets better...Obama and Clinton are speaking in Butte on April 5th. General Admission tickets go on sale tomorrow morning for $40 a piece. Only 2400 available. There are 4 of us in the office - so far - that want to go. So we're going to try to get tickets. Keep your fingers crossed!

Lunatic On Loose At K.Mar.t

Sitrep: 3x Abs (Beginner)
Goal: 3x Abs, 1x 15 mins Other/Any Exercise

Is probably what some poor lady today was thinking while doing her shopping during lunch. She sure gave me that look when I kept laughing out loud in the card aisle. I couldn't help it. Sometimes I have just too much fun getting a birthday card for my sister. One that falls under the category of "Hilarious But DO NOT Send" went like this:

[front] Happy Birthday Mom
[Inside] Oops! I meant sister (It's getting harder and harder to tell you two apart.)

Heeheehee. Mom won't see how that's funny, and it's not meant in any way cruelly. It's just funny as all get out to me. Rather too cruel to send to my sister, though. I think. Although she'd laugh, she might wince as well. Not good for a b-day card.

In the Runner-Up category:

[front - praying child angel] Sisters are a gift from God
[inside, big letters] A cruel, vengeful & punishing God

That was laugh out loud funny, definitely. I think I snorted I laughed so hard. That's when I got the look.

It's fun to spend time shopping for cards. Especially when you can find funny ones. Last few years they've been on the scarce side. At least, any that strike my funny bone. Or that I think my sister will find funny. We're a lot alike, my sister & I.

I remember the birthday my first year in college, when my sis came down for the weekend (our bdays are 1 day apart). It was also East.er weekend, so Mom & Dad drove up (since the 2 of us were going to be together, Mom just had to be there too!).

I opened my presents first (I'm the 17th Apr, she's the 18th Apr). Upon reading the card from my sister, I could not stop laughing. See, although we lived miles and miles apart (Tallahassee for me, Atlanta for her), shopped in different malls & stores, we had managed to buy each other the exact same card for our birthdays. :)

Free To Any Home: 1 Set Used Ears

Sitrep: 1x Abs Beginner workout
Goal: Daily abs for the next 5 days. :)

I have a double ear infection. Again. This is just ridiculous. It's been 6 months since the last one. I must be averaging 2 per year. I think I'm getting more ear infections as an adult than I ever did as a child. =8-O

Talking to Shanni on the phone last night (poor kid is still at home w/Flu) and she says to me "What is this, eighteen?" Smart aleck.

This time, though, there is no ear pain and mild clogging. I can feel that there is liquid sloshing around, but it's not totally packed. And I got extremely dizzy and nauseous. Not my usual symptoms. I guess my body decided that since I ignored the sudden extreme pain last time (resulting in that mildly perforated ear drum, yikes!) it was going to give me a different symptom: extreme dizziness and nausea. Not fun. Couldn't get in to see my regular doc. The one I did see was nice, though. Actually listened to my past history, what I had to say about this current bout, and believed me when I said Amoxy.cillin just doesn't cut it anymore. He wrote me out a prescription for Aug.mentin, and said to keep up with the Sud.a.fed. (Not that it was helping much, really.) So. I'm now on antibiotics, am double-dosing the sud.afed (no lectures, please!) and decided to top it all off with some motion-sickness meds - Bonamine. So I'm at least functional at work, and not running to the bathroom every 5 minutes because I feel like I'm gonna hurl.

You should see my kitchen counter. There are 7 medicine bottles lined up. Four on the left, 3 on the right. The left is for the dog, the right is for me (my 2 regular meds, plus the antibiotic). The OTC meds are in my purse; I take as needed. I'm actually having to write on my calendar when I've given the dog her meds & which ones, as apparently I'm not capable of remembering to give her all of hers and take mine. It's one or the other.

I wonder if they put tubes in adults ears?

Define: Ironic

Sitrep: 1x Abs Beginner workout

So I'm watching TV last night, and this commercial comes on with 2 models talking about their new clothing line (or lines) at Target. I think they were models, they said their names like the viewer should recognize them. They described the clothes as inspired by 1930's florals, but more 1970's, and "flirty", "fun", "ironic"...

Did I miss something? Is it those girl-genes I was born without? How can clothing be ironic? I understand flirty. (Sometimes). I understand fun. But ironic?

ironic
adjective
1. humorously sarcastic or mocking; "dry humor"; "an ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely"; "an ironic novel"; "an ironical smile"; "with a wry Scottish wit" [syn: dry]
2. characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is; "madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker"; "it was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely"

Are they saying if I'm wearing the "flirty, fun, ironic" dress, I'm actually not flirty or fun? I'm confused.

I think it's more ironic that that SOB Mark got back on the Biggest Loser last night. Or that Ali (a girl!!!) BEAT HIM to be the Biggest Loser of the night. :) That made my evening. Although there wasn't far to go for it to get better, because it ticked me off when he got back on the show. It's more ironic that every Tuesday this year I stuff my face while watching the Biggest Loser. Now that's ironic. I think. Like I said. I'm confused.

However, I did realize something last night. I've been bemoaning the fact that I can't seem to get myself exercising again. All told, I've spent hours over the last 2 months thinking about why I can't seem to get moving again. Is is the fact that Alden no longer posts? Is is the slow down in Gator Patrols? Is it that it seems no one else is still working out? Well, Alden's posts weren't supposed to go on forever. Really. The man has a buiness, family, a life. And the Gator Patrol? I could start some of those myself, but I don't. No one else working out? Not true. I get glimpses of it now and then, in a post or two on the BB. What it really comes down to is this:

I've got to be able to sustain this myself, in the long run. That is the only way this will become a life-long habit. I've shifted tracks, moved onto a new phase in this journey of self-improvement and better health, mental & physical. I need to do this for me, because of me. Oh, that's not to say that having support from others isn't good. It is. It just can no longer be the only motivator to keep me going. I am the motivator. Me, and only me. Just like I am the only reason I've stopped. I am the only one being disappointed or hurt by my lack of action.

It hasn't just been lack of exercise either. There's been significant backward action in these areas:

1) Daily water consumption (some days are negative!)
2) Morning & afternoon snacks (amazing the difference that made!)
3) Controlling portion sizes
4) Choosing healthier ingredients/foods
5) Lack of journaling/tracking food & activity (on here, on SparkPeople)

All these tools I've thrown away. Well, no more. Isn't it ironic (stop singing, please) that my biggest stay-sitting-down-don't-move addiction, television, has given me such a big eye opener? It was Ali, on The Biggest Loser, that made me sit up and go "oh" last night. She was voted off in week 4, yet came back in week 11, having lost more (% of weight loss) than all the other eliminated females. Frankly, she's lost more than the women that made it through to week 11. She lost more than them, even though she was on her own for the last 6 weeks! 6 weeks in the real world, without Bob or Jillian, without her whole day at the campus focused on exercise and eating right. How ironic is that?

Modern Language Association (MLA):
"ironic." WordNet® 3.0. Princeton University. 12 Mar. 2008. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ironic>.

A girl could get paranoid

When her coworkers scurry around with air sanitizers and clor.ox wipes after she walks past them. She could get paranoid...but I won't. ;) I'm just glad I'm up and around. Finally. Been doing nothing but sleep on the sofa since I woke up Friday. Holy moly. I'd been feeling down last week, but thought it was just the regular cold/sinus deal. Although since I've been using the Neil.med Sinus Rinse (THANK YOU CRANKYOTTER, a million times THANK YOU!!!), my sinuses have been so much better I've been off the Clari.tin.

But Shanni came down sick on Friday as well, so we commiserated (ie, whined) over the phone to each other. Except Saturday morning her mom calls me and says "So, I'm on my way to Urgent Care with Shanni. Do we need to pick you up on the way?" [g] Not quite. But it's nice to know they care. Several hours later the diagnosis for Shanni is: Influenza A. Nice, huh? Poor kid. She was pretty miserable. The doctor prescribed Tam.iflu for the entire family. Guess how much that costs per person, after insurance? $80.00. So times 5 people, that's $400. And they have insurance. Needless to say, only Shanni and Steve got the meds. The rest are taking their chances. As of this morning, Michelle is also feeling ill.

I feel like hanging some garlic around my neck. lol.

Anyway. Scully was not doing well, either. Her breathing was getting progressively worse over the weekend, so I dragged my sorry butt out of bed yesterday (ok, off the sofa) and took her to the vet. $180.00 later, she's on 2 antibiotics and a bronchodilator, plus pred.nisone. I guess it's just that time of year for bronchitis and asthma, etc. Sigh. She was pretty funny on the pred. Made her look all droopy; like a bloodhound. Hehehe. I'm not sure who collapsed on the sofa first, her or me.

But I'm back at work now. Tired, not contagious (I don't think) and wishing I was sacked out on the couch listening to "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie" as I doze. Much nicer than being at work and wading through voicemail and email. People sure are impatient if you don't answer an email within 24 hours. Sheesh.

The Kindness of Strangers....Ungrateful Little Miscreant

Sitrep: working on it

My just-retired boss Roger has decided - finally - to find a new home for the Lhasa Apso he inherited on his wife's death last July. Truly, he is not a small dog or indoor dog type of person, and with his new job he'll be traveling more. This little dog, Gizmo, is a sweet yet mean little thing. I know; how can he be both? It's not so much that he's mean, he's just very wary of strangers, men in particular. Doesn't help that he's 8 yrs old, not neutered, and Laura let him rule the roost for too many years. Until she married Roger. Gizmo likes Roger; he just thinks he's Roger's equal & in charge. He also 'talks' or 'purrs' (sounds like a mild growl) when you pet him or talk to him. Roger backs off when Gizmo does this.

Last Monday I located a breed rescue group in MT, not too far from me. Spoke with the lady that night. She is wonderfully nice, and totally understands the situation. She was actually very surprised that Roger has tried for 7 months. I guess Lhasa Apsos are, uh, more temperamental? They bond to women easier and are stubborn - smart - talkative. High maintenance in personality and care (daily brushing, etc, unless you buzz cut them!)

She is confident she can find Gizmo a home, and is go-go-go. She'll actually be in town on Monday, and is a) bringing a better brand of dog food (!) for Gizmo, and b) will pay to have him Micro chipped. She microchips all 'her' dogs. As soon as she gets more info (shot records, etc.) and pictures she'll post him on her website and start looking for a home for him. Yippee! I'm a bit surprised at how eager and helpful she is. Not sure why. It's not like she's the only such person I've run into. I guess I just let my cynical nature be in control too much. A "expect the worst so you won't be disappointed" kind of thing.

As for that little miscreant Gizmo...I dog-sat him the past 2.5 days while Roger was out of town. Gizmo behaves very well. He even let me groom him. He loves to be groomed. As long as you don't make him sit there and let him wander off and then come back. He does come back as soon as you call his name & pat the floor in front of you. I got most of the matts out of his fur the last few days. But he won't let me brush his belly, where there are quite a few matts, and he absolutely will not tolerate my trimming his feet. I think he must have gotten a nail cut to the quick once, and remembers. I was fine with him until this point, because that's when the ungrateful little miscreant bit me! Stupid dog. I know, I know, it's his only way of protecting himself, etc. But it pisses me off all the same.

Scully didn't like it either. She didn't attack him, but was getting upset. I could tell from her body posture, and how she came over and kept trying to get between me and Gizmo. Which didn't help me much...Because then I was worried they'd attack each other. I made sure that after he bit me (it wasn't much of a bite - didn't break the skin, etc.) that I handled each leg (without the scissors or brushes anywhere near us) just to let him know I can darn well touch him wherever I want because I am in charge.

I was exhausted after that. Got ready for bed, made sure to block the hallway so Gizmo would stay in the living room, and went to bed. Scully was funny. She usually goes to sleep on her bed right next to mine. Then around 2am she climbs into bed with me. Not last night. She got right up on the bed, laying on the foot of the bed (faces the door). A few minutes after I climbed into bed, she laid her head down, but still where she could keep an eye on the door, and laying in a position where she could leap up at a seconds notice to defend me...

Bad Day at the Library

Heh. Not words you think I'd say/write very often. And it's not for lack of books, either. I really didn't stay there long enough for it to become an issue. Apparently Sunday afternoons at the library are Not A Good Idea.

I will admit, it wasn't totally the library visit itself that ruined the day. I was already on edge due to the event I took Shanni to first. MT is the sister-state to Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan. They have a center in town, on the Walking Mall near the library. Yesterday was Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) in Japan, and they had a little celebration for the public. I thought it would be fun to take Shanni. When we walked in there weren't too many people there and the hosts (there is a Japanese family that lives here to manage the center, along with a local American coutnerpart) seemed as ill at ease as us...I have a feeling not too many people they don't already know attend the celebrations, even when they are open to the public. Anyway.

This cute little girl in a Yukata (she was a bit offended when I complimented her on her Kimono - she quickly corrected me!) handed Shanni and I each a bowl of what appeared to be rice and veggies. Me being me, I didn't think too much about it, although I should have. And trying to instill some manners in Shanni, I thanked them and took a bite. Uh, yeah. Have I mentioned I'm a picky eater? It had enough of a taste to let me know that there was more than rice and veggies in there. I looked closer, and by George, there was a little shrimp hiding in there. I'm not sure if I ate one; I don't think so...By the look on Shanni's face, she wasn't too thrilled with it either. So I quickly distracted her by dragging her over to the wall displays, and we made our way into another room. I noticed that she took a second bite. She told me later it would be too rude to only eat one bite, so she made herself take another. I guess she's instilling manners in me. :) When no one was looking, I put both our bowls in the trash. (Told mom this last night and she laughed and said "you are your father's daughter!". I consider that a compliment anyways, so...) As you've probably figured out, it was some type of rice bowl sushi. I knew I should have called Mom before going. But I doubt she'd've warned me. This is the same woman that used ground turkey in Hamburger Helper once and thought I wouldn't notice. And I was an adult at the time! Hah! She's a joker sometimes, my mom is!

We learned how to make an origami Hina doll, and an origami crane. Then they had a tea ceremony. That was cool. Shanni didn't want to stay, but I thought it an important part of Japanese culture, so we stayed. It would have been more enjoyable if the parents had taken control of their kids. Really. There were at least 8 kids there, 3 yrs old to 10 or so, and they crowded around the raised tatami mats. The hostess had to stop in the middle of the ceremony to warn them back, as they were leaning forward and a couple of them were just inches from the hot tea kettle with boiling water in it. Parents just stood back, did nothing. Not even when one of the kids knocked into the Hina Doll display stand, knocking several pieces onto the floor. (Thank goodness the breakable ones just tipped over).

Shortly after the ceremony ended, we left. Irritated, because those kids blocked most of what the hostess was doing, so Shanni didn't really get to see much.

Then we walked down to the library. I'd noticed when we parked that it seemed awfully busy for the library, but didn't realize why until we went inside. There were kids everywhere! It was horrible. The library was buzzing with noise. So not right. Cell phone talkers, kids running and yelling. No parents in sight...What is wrong with people? Kids were walking out with library books that hadn't been checked out, setting off that stupid alarm. It was insane. Turns out the library has a program on Sundays called PAWS for reading. Kids get to practice reading out loud to specially trained dogs. At the same time they were also celebrating Dr. Seuss. At least that's only the one time thing. The PAWS program is another few weeks or so.

Shanni was a little startled we left so quickly. I got one book by S.L. Viehl (Eternity Row - the only book by her they had. I'd normally try inter-library loan to start with the first book, but it being so insanely busy and noisy...). Couldn't use the self-checkout because I had 2 books in that I'd reserved, and one was the next in a series Shanni was reading so we had to pick it up. Darn it. We got those and were out of there. She asked what was wrong & I told her I couldn't handle the noise and crush of people, especially the kids running amok. It was giving me a nervous break down.

So. Note to self: NO LIBRARY VISITS ON SUNDAYS. At least, not without checking their calendar first.

First Meeting of the Wine & Chocolate Club

Sitrep: 1x 15 min walk, 1 set Perfect Pushups (10 Reg, 10 Wide, 10 Close), 5x stairs (Up & Down, 26 steps).

What I want to know is when did I get so old that 3 glasses of wine make me feel so crappy? Okay, the champagne at work (boss' last day), plus eating chocolate chip cookies & carrots all day probablly didn't help. But Seriously. Now I'm a lightweight that gets hung over. This is so not fair.

I'm just now feeling human again, and it's 10pm...

After the boss' send off at work yesterday, it was home to get the dog, and off to my little sister's for dinner and a girl's night of painting finger and toenails. Green, natch. It is March. ;)

I admit I'm the one that brought the wine. But really. Strawberry White Zin should be safe enough...Even after a glass of champagne. I got there and the chocolate cake was cooking...the frosting was coconut pecan. OMG. I have a new favorite cake, seriously. And I was responsible for the ice cream, too. Had over a gallon left over from the party at my boss' last weekend. Josie was there too, which we haven't managed for a few months...since New Year's, actually. Which is probably why we had so much fun. And it was fun. For us, anyway. Steve, the poor man, hid in the bedroom with a set of earplugs. He came out at one point for his pain meds, but didn't stay long.

Someone made the mistake of asking my opinion on something to do with politics...because of the last discussion on the BB (which I just had to start!!!), I was already worked up, and with the wine...I had a lovely case of verbal diarrhea. Michelle was surprised at "this side" of me. Shannon's seen it before. Josie just laughed, and asked "how do you know all this..." I just sat there fish-faced for a few before going "I read? Google, maybe?" Michelle's not so sure anymore my going to D.C. with Shannon is a good idea.

Needless to say, I slept there last night...Got up around 7 am (gotta love the dogs, NOT!) and made Shanni find me some aspirin. I think I faked being awake through a couple hours of conversation with her, because I have a vague impression of her talking and me going "uh-huh" a lot, until suddenly it was 9 am. I hope I didn't agree to anything too painful. [g] It took cake & ice cream and a couple cups of coffee to get me out the door around noon.

The dog still hasn't recovered from the night out...she looks worse now than I felt this morning...