Chuy is a hot dog

He is churning out massive PTUs*

I need to turn down my electric blanket. 

*puppy thermal units

Update two hours later: turned the electric blanket from the 5 to the 3. It's super cold out, and now all my furry snug-bugs are glued to me. They are so sweet. I'm sure they're not just using me for my warmth!  ;)

Snowing and accumulating. Good thing I've got plenty of grub in the house. 

Aaaaaaand it's not too cold for the neighborhood skunk to make his 5:30 AM circuit. And it's not cold enough to settle down said skunk's stink molecules. Shooie!

Now! This blog! A dozen years running!

Still no ads nor a whit of bullshitlian™ user agreements. You don't have to give your age, birthdate or phone number to come to this site, and you never will.

Still writing this blog just for myself, but you're welcome to take your shoes off and set a spell, as ever. I appreciate that you stopped by. :)

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: last of the year

I'm so glad this difficult year is coming to a close. Still, the pups have been an absolute delight all the way through.

Snow was not forecast...

...but I didn't even have to get out of bed to know that it had.

Blue Christmas

These people go nuts in my folks' neighborhood. Funny. 

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: on the way home:

Puppy pic from home. Flying in to DFW from NYC this afternoon. Will overnight at my parents' house and drive on home tomorrow. Massachusetts is wonderful and I hope to visit again one day soon. 

R.I.P., Buck.

I'm so sad to say that Buck passed away this week. He was a lovely gentleman and his blog was a delight. His sons will carry on his blog, and through them his spirit will continue, but Buck will be sorely missed in our community.

Bless you, Buck, and thank you for your thoughtful posts, and for all the ways you delighted we who were privileged to banter with you. Godspeed.

Buck in Portales

With the frenzy of school I've been neglectful of my community, but it can be so easy to just imagine everyone is perking right along as per usual. The lovely gentleman Buck from the blog Exile In Portales has been unwell, and I wanted to pass that along and ask for folks to spare thoughts and prayers for him. http://exileinportales.blogspot.com

I love Boston.

That is all. 

John Fluevog Boston is the best!!!

Had a grand time in Boston Proper at the marvelous John Fluevog shop. To my sheer delight, I found the sales associate who helped me with the sizing for my last order of Vogs was in the shop. Her name is Johnny, and she is the BEST! I told her that I wasn't buying yesterday, but that I wanted to fact-find on various shoe styles for (hopefully) future purchases.  She was super, patient, and informative.  Good thing, too, because the sizes I needed in the different models ranged 3 whole sizes.

Having a grand time with friends. :)

Had the best Roast Beef sandwich ever from Mino's in Marblehead (Mass) yesterday. My demands were pretty much met with the trip to Fluevog, but I did inform my lovely hostess yesterday that I MUST have another of those sandwiches again before I go home.  THAT good.  I never knew roast beef could be so delicious.

Heading for the mother ship

Having an incredibly lovely time at the home of Mr. & Mrs. SciFI. Darling Christina is finishing up her testing for the semester, and today we're going to the Fluevog store (insert angelic chorus here) in Boston. Christina's twins are here and Silver will be home from college on Wednesday, and it's so lovely to see all the girls again. The weather has been splendid with temps in the 40s and mostly sunny and clear, and thankfully dry.

Yesterday we met Mrs. and Marko Kloos for a lovely meal at a wonderful place called Firefly, and a lovely time was had by all.

Massachusetts is incredibly lovely with an abundance of magnificent trees and rivers. Crossed the meandering Merrimack, which is SUCH a beautiful river.

Having a lovely time. I brought two pairs of Fluevogs, but they're fighting over which pair gets to go to the Mother Ship today.  Hmm. My kitschy kitschy boom booms, or my classic limited edition pearly gold Vogs from about 1996? Hmmm....  Decisions, Decisions. I'll try to add a picture of what I decide.

More later.

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: the pups of others, Massachusetts edition

I told Christina that Harley's Onesie would be perfect with pearls, and she happened to have some handy. 

Flight was pleasant and left early with only about 30 passengers, so I got my own pair of seats. The plane left early and arrived early, and the flight was generally pleasant. Dallas was glimmering in the dark, and the Boston skyline was gorgeous as we flew in. 

Going to New Hamster today. It's wild to wake up in a new place, yes?

Oh! They have roundabouts here. Apparently by merely rolling onto one, some drivers achieve a meth-like trance state wherein they feel the laws of physics do not apply and they can drive any which way with no consequences. 

It cray. 

That which doesn't kill me...

So so so glad this semester is over. 

Going to Boston tonight to attend Christina's pinning ceremony this week-- so proud of her! Puppy Sunday will have a guest feature of Harley and Tucker, I expect. 

I haven't flown anywhere since 2002. More here soon. 

Nag. Nag. Nag.

I absolutely detest being nagged.

The receptionist in my orthodontist's office has a penchant for calling at the worst possible moments. I have told her repeatedly that I will CALL THEM when I am going to be in Dallas and have the time to go to their office for my retainer check. I've also assured her that I wear my retainers religiously. I've been told I can wear them just a night or two a week, but I wear them every other night now, because my teeth get sore if I don't wear them 2 nights in a row. How many times do I have to tell her I'm RIDICULOUSLY busy???

So, today, I'm doing my last minute review ALL DAY for my med/surg final this evening, when I am NOW getting passive-aggressive texts from her personal cellphone that double to my email account asking when I'll come in.

*IGNORE*

I have to say it gets my blood up. If I'm going to do something, I'll bloody well do it when I have time, and you nagging me will only make me dis-inclined to hurry about it. I resent people ignoring specific information I've given them that I'll get back with them, and disrespecting the level of stress and over-commitment in my school schedule. But a text from her personal cell phone to mine is OVER THE LINE.

Back off, heifer!

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: motivational Mochi

I just love waking up with Mochi on the pillow snugged up to me. She helps me stay motivated to sleep late when possible. Think I'll snooze some more. 

Sticker shock

I never thought I'd see the day when a gallon of gas was cheaper than Roma tomatoes, but grabbing some fresh veg at a local market, the 3 little tomatoes doubled my bill at the register, totaling $2.99 a pound. I doubted my senses, but had the clerk take them off my order. Paid my bill, then went to produce and got a single regular tomato at .79/pound. I suppose I'll have to adjust. Odd, though, because the sign on the Romas said $2.49. I need to pay attention more often. Or find a cheaper market in town. *sigh* I find Romas have a nicer flavor, and they are slightly less acidic. Conversely, some very nice little avocados were 3/$1. Odd. 

All that remains are 4 finals. Two are in online classes and I'll complete those Tuesday, MedSurg is Monday, and Mental Health is Wednesday. Hard to believe the semester is at an end. This one has hands-down been the roughest. 

I submitted an essay for a (much-needed) scholarship competition, and winners are notified in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed on that score. 

Looks like I'll be taking my old job back on a very limited basis at the salt mine. I also go for a couple of days in training in January to be a substitute teacher in the local school district. Not thrilled about that, although I'd love to teach English lit. 

I have a couple creative writing projects that have been completely back-burnered during the semester that I'm looking forward to tackling during the holiday break. I really need to tackle organizing my spare room-- it's a shambles, and my school desk basically puked and papers and books have erupted and spilled out in every possible direction. Busy busy. 

For Charlie.

You never really had a chance, from the very beginning. Words are inadequate to describe my sorrow for you.

R.I.P.

Velvety sweetness

Mochi is so soft. Puppy vortex made it hard to get out of bed today, but I've much studying to do. But first there's enough time to pet some sweet little doggies. :)

Sunday, Puppy Sunday: Pretty Praline

I don't think I already posted this one?

Cold weather came back Sunday night. 

Brrr!