Friday, December 15, 2023

We are here! It was 28 degrees when we arrived last night at the house. DS had the house all lit up with Christmas lights - very welcoming. As usual, Justice was a wonderful traveler. And the airline was fantastic. 5 minutes from our Florida house, free parking, new and comfortable planes.

We arrived at midnight and were up at 6:30. I thought it was 7:30 but the clock was never changed for standard time. I didn't have my phone to check the time OR to turn the heat on. I will remember that tonight.

Another busy day, starting with Justice's vet appointment and culminating in a visit to the hairdresser this afternoon. I haven't had my hair cut or highlighted in 3 months so it REALLY needs it. In between the two appointments we have to drive to DH's house to get his car which we need this weekend.

I also have tons of packages to open with Christmas gifts. I need to get them sorted so I can identify and wrap the ones for DH's family as we do Christmas with them tomorrow.

Coffee is done and the house is warming up so time to get my act in gear. Have a fine Friday!

Liz, your ability to get things organized and done is enviable. New Englanders do have a reputation of being people who get things done. You are the poster child!

My mood was just horrid by yesterday evening. One puppy family backed out, with valid reason, but still leaves me in a lurch. People don't puppy search over the holidays. Another puppy family wants me to keep the puppy until April!!!! My guess is that if I don't agree to keep it until April, they are also going to back out. Sigh....

So, the puppy stuff added on to the rest of load just felt like a little too much yesterday so I indulged in crankiness. When Ron negatively commented on how I was cleaning the puppy pen it was all I could do to maintain a civil tone.

No dog shows this weekend - actually no shows until January in Palm Springs. I will appreciate the time at home, even if it is already highly scheduled.

Christmas is gonna be weird. My brother and his family are going to Fallon, NV to be with his wife's nieces and their adopted daughter. Dad's girlfriend has virtually disappeared from his life over the past months, so I doubt we will see her (though I did invite her). So, I think our Christmas Eve will be just 4 people. I am thinking of making a reservation at a decent restaurant and calling it. Will save me a ton of work.

Festive Friday to one and all.

Since Christmas would be different (aka weird) anyway, going to a nice restaurant might make it feel more special. I assume your Dad is still okay with restaurant going (just asking because it became difficult with late DH at some point)?

I'm so sorry about the puppy troubles, Peps! April?! Someone doesn't want to go through this challenging stage!

Speaking of challenging stages, Kirby has found his voice. Yesterday's class was something else as he was the barker this time! Argh. We have work to do. This morning I had taken him out to potty and saw some of my neighbors walking who then stopped to say hi. One has a rescue dog who is slightly unpredictable. Luna started off waggy, but Kirby is relentless and she eventually corrected him, which is understandable. I didn't mind as he earned it! So then he just stood there and barked in machine gun fire style at her from his leash. Ugh. I don't want a barky dog!

I didn't make it to the water store yesterday. Need to do that today.

I feel like the walking wounded! I twisted my ankle day before yesterday trying to avoid stepping on the puppy and now my calf muscle is pulled from walking funny to compensate for my ankle not bending. Then while unpacking a box of puppy gates, I dropped the whole 43 pound box on my good ankle. So that's all skinned. Boo. Hiss.

The landscaper came by this morning and we discussed poisoning the burrowing colonies of Lord knows what that are eating my tree roots and undermining a retaining wall. I asked what they are and he said "moles, voles, gophers, rats, what have you". They will drill into the mounds and insert poison. Hopefully they die in the holes. The mounds are a foot plus wide and everywhere. I will keep my eye out for carcasses so I can throw them away instead of leaving them for scavengers.

Lots of critter out there!

You know Kirby will be a totally different dog once he matures - he is just trying out everything now.

Greetings Peeps and Peps and Pups

The sunny calm days continue. What a gift! Blue sky and sunlight are natural mood lifters.

DH is out to lunch with his friends. Dr. office called to make an appointment. Guess they work over lunch hour. This the is the vascular doctor who will try to help DH with swollen legs. DH has purchased wedge pillows in order to raise his legs as well as compression socks. He has yet to use either. Also he has not put on the quick zip sheet he requested as his was torn. Go figure. This is the guy who takes the vacuum cleaner apart and washes the filters after every single use!

Yeah Christmas makes a lot of work for us all. I have it better than most since we dont have a lot of family and don't do much. These burdens seem to fall on women. When I married DH I told him that I was not taking responsibility for birthdays and such for his sisters and their kids. So he does little and me too.

On that note Peps, making a reservation at a nice place for Christmas eve is a good idea. Do it. For a small group it might be more fun anyway. If there are no little kids, Christmas is different so make it adult. And hope the puppy stuff works out which I am sure it will.

Uh oh CC, Kirby has learned to bark. I think Poppy did not know how to bar****il she was at least 6 months old. Tesla is a terrible barker and we were afraid Poppy would be the same but not so. She barks a few and then comes in looking for food. So hopefully Kirby is going through a phase of early barking.

Liz good luck with wrapping and getting warm. Holiday hairdo always feels good. Big change in weather! My skin always reacts to going into a heated environment.

So studio buddy who is building the house has invited us over tomorrow for a small gathering in the new place. It's not finished but all the outer stuff is in so it will be fun to see. Plus the winery visit. Ho ho ho.

Diane S

ps I think brother is landing in the USA about now. Lots to talk about with him when he is up to it.

PPSS. Some horrible grinch person here stole a semi truck that was full of Toys for Tots collected by the US Marines! But the jerk was caught and many of the toys recovered. Plus tons of new donations given. So Tis the Season!

Terrible, but luckily, a happy ending.

Grinch! No kidding! I'm glad they caught him.

Welcome back to Northern weather Liz. Still warmish here today. Some students despondent because the forecast was sprinkles and 42, and they were going snowboarding. The ski hills have made snow, but mother nature has not kicked in. I hope you get all your to do list done, and have a lovely get together tomorrow.

Sorry about the potential puppy family Peps. (although I do think I like this alliteration). Puppies are work, but if I were getting one, I wouldn't want to miss out on all the cute little puppy stuff, or miss the time puppy and our family bond. And yes, Christmas Eve at a restaurant if that works for your Dad. Well, that's my bias this year, very excited about not hosting.

CC, Kirby is showing all facets. Some barking is good, no? But a dog that barks incessantly is wearing. I bet Kirby is not going to be that dog. He is being handled well, trained well, and is living in an enriched, but not over stimulating environment.

Diane, glad your DH is at least thinking about tending to his legs. I really resisted using compression socks (hematologist said I had to wear them on planes and long car trips) but I found they actually felt kind of good.

As usual, I am almost deliriously happy that it is Friday. We were going to go to a Christmas Market tonight, but I begged off. Maybe tomorrow. I am too tired to even concentrate on reading the paper. I am quite content to sit here on the couch and watch Netflix.