Halooooo!
Can't believe it is already late afternoon! I gave a presentation this am on The Brain that Changes Itself I don't know if my presentation was interesting, but the book was. Tells ways to "keep your brain fit" and how stroke survivors are recovering, how sexual preferences/fantasies change...
But it was a lot of work learning PowerPoint and making handouts. Just the same I was revved up enough to clean kitchen and put in some wash. Should have taken a nap immediately. Now I'm torn between painting/sketching or reading or napping. At least I had a sufficient lunch and am not hungry.

Sugp - did you hear about the lady in Arizona (or someplace) who was being prosecuted because she died her poodle PINK for breast cancer awareness? she used beet juice. I can't see that as "animal cruelty" any more than just giving any dog a bath! Hope your white Easter is fun anyway!

Cowper - Sorry your son is having a hard time. If he'll take advice, great... but I think usually people need empathy first... and inquiries about what they're WILLING to do that might help. Or what they think will happen if they don't change their patterns? It's hard to be quiet long enough to let them grow up.

Kiwi - Condolences about the high-handed ISP/login changes. Yipes. How's the energy lag coming? Pretty smart to let the dog work on oatmeal cleanup. I think my DD wishes that her OATMEAL would clean up after her dog.

Bagzz - HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY. I LOVE cranberries and cranberry muffins are at the top of my list. Dunkin Donuts is finally coming to Texas (70 stores planned in the metroplex... holy hot latte!! Anyway, I think their orange cranberry muffings are top notch.

Cookie Amazon - Glad to meet you. And contratulations on finding meds that help. And committing to all of the life-changes people can do to reverse the diabetic tendencies. I gather that Exercise is THE most important. (I read in that book that after 6 months of cardio vascular exercise, rats increased their quantity of neurons by 500%. Maybe then we'd have brain power to spare! (and we'd have room to get out of our old mental ruts.))

TTFN.

Wow -- I need more neurons! Maybe the vacuuming I just did will add a couple. I got sweaty anyway So do you think if you got drunk while riding a bicycle, you'd come out even?

Not that I was thinking of trying that.

I'm a little punchy. Must be all the dust. I have to go grocery shopping. Yeah, at 6:35 PM. Blah. Later dahlings

I need all the neurons I can get!

My sweet DD is home! We are going to go see Horton Sees a Who today. Hee Hee, I used to love reading that book to her. And all the other Dr. Suess books, the more of a tongue twister, the better!

Unfortunately it has been sleeting for about 12-15 hours. There is a buildup of 2 or 3 inches of sleet -- it's like walking through dry sand. Except cold. Not looking forward to the drive, but it's kind of letting up, so I think we'll go anyway.

DH went to the big city yesterday and bought me a big oval crockpot (I actually asked for it) -- there was a coupon and rebate on it and it will end up costing only $12.99. It's very cool looking-- stainless steel with a black crock. Plus it came with a tiny crockpot bonus -- holds about 1 cup. What on earth would you do with that? The box suggests warming hot fudge -- Just what I need. I told DD it was a potpourri warmer just to watch her roll her eyes.

So anyway I'm making chicken soup. Before I go to the movie. Except I have to go take a shower first. Uhoh I better get going.

Kiwi

I think I have that crockpot, only the liner is white. The mini pot you use for keeping nacho cheese sauce hot..... or you can put spices in it and simmer it so it smells good. Not that I ever do that, but you can.

I just got back from Tacoma, WA (almost to Seattle) to visit my ex sister in law, who really isn't because she never did marry my oldest brother, but she is the mother of my niece. She asked me to come help her plant her flower pots so that her deck would be pretty b/c she's selling her house. Except I planted flowers and painted her garage doors, and front door, and helped her edit her decorative stuff, and washed a few windows. Now I hurt all over b/c of the ol' rheumatizzzz. It was hard work, but fun to focus on someone else's problems for a change.

Peachez, I'm sorry about your kitty. I feel your pain b/c my golden retriever is not doing well either. I'm going to take him to the vet next week, but I don't want to, b/c I think they're going to tell me there is nothing they can do, and they'll want to put him down. I think he has cancer, and I don't want him to be in pain, but I love this old doggie and I don't want to lose him.

Your signs look lovely, Kiwi, very artsy, and I'm so glad to hear your baby girl is home for a visit.

Hi Cookie! sorry you're having some troubles, but hang around and we'll try to cheer you up.

......and Sugar P, as I tell my sister when she complains about her hubby, don't hold back, it has no bearing on my situation.

I'd yak more, but I really do hurt bad and I've driven 3 hours and I'm going to lay around and watch tv for as long as I d*mn well want. Don't you try to stop me.

Aw. thanks Wabby. I'm so sorry about your doggie but thanks for sharing that. If my kitty were next to a picture in the dictionary, it would be "gentleness." Yes, I need him here.

And thanks to Painty for reminding me to empathize with DS. I worry about him. All I hear (I've said this before) is negative. Yesterday, I talked to him and he said he'd slept through a quiz. Actually he said, "my quiz" like I'd know what he meant. I learned later that night that he had emailed me to wake him up BUT he sent the email after I'd left for work. Why not leave a text message or voice message on the phone? Why he can't wake himself up is another question I'm not ready for.

Painty, that book sounds fascinating. I try to think more positively but don't get far. For example, yesterday I was working in the liquor store with another woman. There were 3 customers in the store and the woman was yammering at me about her varicose veins. I left her to go help a customer and what does she do??? She comes after me, answering the same questions for the same customer as though she's the great authority .. he turns to her because I'm so uninformed (Does vermouth comes in a smaller bottle?) and the other 2 customers are left on their own. So .. positive thinking would be that she was being friendly to me and I should like that but really I wanted to toss her out the door.

Get up Wabby. Enough tv. Gilmore Girls is off the air.

Nacho cheese and hot fudge sauce -- yessiree bob! Little pot o sin! Yeah, I had thought of simmering spices (because I'm so Martha as you know). Someday I'll do that. Probably right after I paint my house oatmeal.

I wish all the sweet kitties and doggies good health. It's just too hard when they decline.

Peachie, I'm no expert of course, but I think DS is overwhelmed if he's trying to pass off some of his responsibilities onto you, i.e. you're not his alarm clock. Do you think he would be willing to talk to someone at school? Just for some perspective, maybe advice on how to juggle it all.

I'm supposed to be down at the in-laws baking bread with DH and DD. Instead I am home on the computer. DH worked up this whole shebang and I assumed since we were going to be there all day I'd have to bring the dog with me. Before I got up this morning, he comes in and says we ought to take 2 vehicles because he might have to go somewhere or do some errands, and I might have to come home and let the dog out. I.e. don't bring the dog and I don't care whether you show up at all. Can you tell I'm a little p-o'ed? No? I don't even know why I agree to do all this crap he wants to do.

So I'm protesting and taking my own sweet time.

DD and I didn't get to go to a movie yesterday as we planned. We got halfway to the big city and heard that her bf's brother had flipped over his car on the interstate. We were about 20 minutes from the location so we did an illegal uturn and went to see if there was anything we could do to help. He's fine, the car was on its head though. The driving conditions were pretty treacherous, worse than we thought when we headed out. But since we were already halfway, we continued on and did a few errands (picked up another new toy for DH ) and drove back home rather than stay for a movie. So, no Horton.

We rented Dan in Real Life and watched it, which was really quite good. Not what I was expecting (i.e. not stupid).

Okay I guess I've wasted over an hour. I can probably get going now...

ta

Spring is not starting off well. Guess what? I got an e mail from my mother today telling me that my Uncle E. (Dad's younger brother) died of a heart attack on the 19th while he was in hospital being treated for kidney failure.
It was all quite sudden and unexpected. The brothers never got along well but Mum wants Dad to fly from Vancouver to Montreal for the funeral out of respect for the rest of the family - four adult kids + partners,two grandchildren, ex-wife, girlfriend. Dad doesn't want to and won't say why but I know it's because he's almost 79 years old and deaf in one ear and a little confused sometimes and the thought of getting on a plane all alone and figuring out where he's supposed to go is freaking him out. I can totally see both their points of view. One solution is to get Dad to Ottawa where littlest brother lives so they can attend servive together since brother will be going anyway. Another idea is to have middle brother go with Dad from Vancouver. I hope they figure something out because my mother is having a fit. She says she would go but then she might miss her operation date for major back surgery that she's been waiting for for over six months. Ain't life grand? NOT.

Thanks for the permision to rant, Wabs. dh and I had a long chat and he is no longer being a poop-head. We, uh, kissed and made up and everything is (sort of) OK again and no one will be moving out.

I want to see Horton Hears a Who too! I love that book - And the small kangaroo in her pouch said, "Me too!"

Gahhh! That sounds scary. Nope, I have three or four of those kind of "whatever happens you still have your self worth, yada, yada, yada" books on my self-help bookshelf graveyard, but this one is pretty easy to read and doesn't make one feel like a loser. It goes into the reasons for procrastination and how you need to schedule the fun stuff FIRST and THEN make room for the work you need to do. Quite revealing. I know nothing about this author, just bought the book on a whim.

Peachy - seriously, get him that book. Kind of not fair that he's trying to make you be a mom from afar too. Sounds like he wants to be an adult but isn't ready to take responsibility for his own mistakes. I can totally empathize with him, though and I want to fly over and give him a big hug and tell him everything will be all right. Too much to organize and nobody tells you how. Don't they have classes for that kind of stuff? I remember a room mate of mine taking a "Time Management" class at university and getting a lot out of it.

Painty - You'd think people would have other animal rights stuff to worry about than a pink poodle who came to no harm. Not that I would do it myself, but still, pretty silly to get all fussed up over it.

My crockpot is silver with a black pot too. No little pot though. Is it from Rival? I got the big one but I really should have gotten the smaller one 'cause the food looks so lost when it's in there and I'm not into making and freezing big batches yet.

It just started snowing again. Whee.

really glad kiwiddbfdb is ok.

sad to hear about sugar uncle.

This is what ds is getting me for birthday. He may change his mind if I tell him what I really want.

I ordered the book, Sug, but do you think he'll read it? I remember my parents sending me a book when I was that age. I knew it was religious and was happy to find it was the Gospel according to Snoopy but I feared the worst knowing it was coming.

It never snows here.

Might be a good idea to tell him what you really want.

A Boulder woman facing a $1,000 fine for dyeing her poodle pink has hired a lawyer to fight the charge in court. Joy Douglas says she dyed Cici, her white miniature poodle, to call attention to breast cancer. She says she used beet juice and Kool-Aid. She was ticketed March 1 under a Boulder ordinance that makes it illegal to dye animals. The ordinance is designed discourage people from dyeing rabbits and chicks for Easter. Douglas had a court hearing scheduled Tuesday, but the judge postponed it until April after she said she has hired a lawyer. Douglas took Cici with her Tuesday but had to leave her outside the courthouse.

I found that on the webpage for my local news.

About the gift, I told ds that I already have an empty cookie bag and broken rubber band. Made other suggestions.

OK. I overreact. I worry about catastrophes. My dog has hot spots, not some horrible skin cancer, and it cost me $185.00 to find that out. What can I say, I'm crazy. I admit it.

I went to my Great Aunt's 90th birthday party today. She's still sharp as a tack, but I'm going to go buy me a new big ol' bottle of calcium pills tomorrow.

I also bought a bookcase from Craig's List. In the last month I've bought a cute little desk, a rocking chair for Kayden, an antique bed for the guest room, and a set of Johnson Bros. red and white dinnerware. I have a serious addiction. I guess it's better than gambling.

I painted Kayden's little rocker all Mary Engelbreitish. It is painted red, green, yellow and black checkerboard. It has a section thats black w/ yellow polka dots and one thats red w/ white and yellow daisies, and it has a little lady bug painted on one of the green armrests. It says "Kayden" on the back. She loves to rock her dollies in it. She's quite the little mommy.

Apparently I don't have enough to do.... I finished a smocked Easter basket that I started about 15 years ago. Maybe 20.

Ask DS for a gift certificate for a massage, Peach. That's always my favorite.

Sugar, sorry to hear about your Uncle.... and sorry that your Dad is having a harder time negotiating airports these days.... although he's not the only one.... I think everyone feels a little discombobulated going thru the security maze these days.

Tomorrow is Easter and Kaydy will be w/ her mother and Vincent isn't quite old enough to appreciate Easter candy. I guess I'll have to eat it all myself. We may not be big Easter morning churchgoers, but we will be eating a ham dinner tomorrow.

Happy Easter Y'all.
I think Easter is a Chickie holiday-- what holiday is the Big One for cows?

I took an abstract art class today. I ended up wearing a lot of pink, brown and red paint on my lavender T-shirt. And I'm not sure I like the painting, either. But it sure was fun! Like frosting a cake (we used pallette knives) but without the butter and sugar.

Kiwi-- Sorry you missed Horton (My DD, DS and DDIL were heading off to see it this evening just when I called them)... AND they'd had crockpot supper, too. So glad that DD's BF was OK. My SIL rolled her Pathfinder in MO this week, too. Went out and bought herself another one. She's 62--- so it's not just teens that have challenges driving on the slippery wet stuff.

Cookie-- Some self-help is definitely better than the rest! And some is SO sweet, that you need to have a crock of salt near by to cut the treacle!

Wabby-- Dare I say that I admire your resilience? I know it hasn't been easy. I'd say I was "proud" but I haven't had ANYTHING to do with it. Good for you helping your SIL... and painting Kayden's rocker. I still have "my" rocking horse... I bet Kayden will have it when she's a granny! Any photos to show us?

Cowpernia-- Glad you got the dog dyeing lady back in the right state! Perhaps she and her pink dog could visit you in the liquor store and get the folks with DT's or psychotic visions to leave you alone. BTW: Optimism is NOT denial!! Being positive doesn't necessarily mean cutting so much slack as to say they're "fine," but rather 1) I don't need to take ___ personally, 2) It isn't permanent (i.e., it will change), and 3) It (whatever) isn't impacting EVERY area of my life. That's plenty positive! Good luck.

SugP: Sorry about your Uncle. One of my friend/colleagues had almost the same situation last month. She doesn't know why her dad and brother were on the outs. She doesn't know why her (step) mother was so adament that her dad go. But HE didn't, my friend did. She connected with cousins and the widow and felt fine. She seemed to think it was a useful lesson to all in MYOB.

I am so glad the Cadbury egg season is finally over.

Click here to see the mysterious Cowbunny.

Or here for a cow in bunny slippers.

So sorry to hear about your uncle, Sugar. That whole travel quandary never occurred to me until a year or so ago when my step-father's brother died, and he declined to go to the funeral, reasoning that he had just seen him not long before. He never liked traveling anyway, but at 92, it must have seemed like quite an ordeal.

On the other hand, my mom is off to visit her sister this week, flying to Florida; had to fit it in between her computer classes. I talked to her yesterday and she was all computer talk. She said the class was going a little slow for her. Oh my! They have unleashed a monster! Funny--this is the same mom who previously threw up her hands in frustration at the suggestion that she look at my photos online, or that she could download her email to read when she was not online (they have AOL--what can you expect?) I can hardly wait to see what she does with this.

I just ordered that book, Sugar. I found it for less than $3 on Amazon. I'll let you know if any of it takes... My new crockpot is some off brand - EuroTrash or something. It's 6 qts; quite big enough! I guess my ancient one was only about 3 or 4.

Good god, that empty cookie bag went for $20.50. What is wrong with people? I have some nice trash I could sell. hmm

Oh Wabby, I'm so glad the dog's only got hot spots! Although I know how much work those are to try to get rid of, at least it's not cancer. How is he doing? Kayden's little chair sounds absolutely adorable!! Take a picture! I want to see I want to see!
Well, all except the eating

We had the usual in-law family dinner today, then DD headed back to school. Her bf is on vacation this week -- they never have the same week, poor dears.. It was so nice to have her home, even if it was only about 5 minutes. Last night we made pizza with her and bf and played a couple very raucous rounds of Pictionary.

For some reason DH decided to get Easter candy and make homemade Easter baskets; they are very funny and cute: crumpled brown paper bags with shredded paper in them. Wish I'd known he was getting candy because I got a whole load of it like I usually do, for DD's basket (yes, I know she's 20) and now we have gobs and gobs. I think I'll put most of it in the freezer.

The great-nephew was at the family dinner -- he's the same age as Kayden. What a cute little boy -- all smiles and grins and parroting people's names. So adorable. He was going around the living room after dinner -- there were I think 11 or 12 grownups there and he was passing out little granola bites. Someone would say "give one to Uncle Frank" and he would march over and hand the right person one. It was very cool. Kayden must be about the same stage -- so much fun!

Kiwi