Ronkala, that's a wonderful idea. I shall look into it after the Holiday. I'm sure I would have a terrible time letting the puppy, grown dog, kitty, cat go to another home though!! Our first pup was when my husband was still in college, and I had so much money for grocery shopping. There happened to be a little girl selling puppies outside of the Stop and Shop on Cambridge St.in Boston This was in the mid-fifties). Guess where I spent our grocery money!!
MIkemo, Greyhounds are very special. We have a friend who has adopted two, and they are so gentle. Beautiful dogs.

Scarlett - if you are worried about my dogs, you shouldn't. I think I'll get rid of the hubby before I let him get rid of the dogs! And if we ever did have to, we would find a good home. They would never go to a shelter. You should see the kids and me travelling with these dogs - it's quite a sight. The dogs are bigger than the kids right now. We've taken them camping, to the beach, down to the cattle ranch - everywhere they can go - they go. (They have been banned at one of our friends house for chasing the peacocks.) And am I a sucker for letting those beasts in my car after a swim in the ocean and a romp in the sand at the beach or what!

So, although I agree with your comment wholeheartedly (sp?), I don't want you to worry about Waffles and Butter.

Hi Everyone, happy Friday! :)

Rave: My husband received an unexpected promotion and raise for all his work in Houston.

Rant: Waiting for the "other shoe" to drop...wondering if he will be transfered to Houston - the thought has crossed his mind. I will not let the thought enter mine.

Rave: My SIL and nephews arrived last night from England. We're all spending Christmas together - we have a fun day planned.

I will have to catch up on everyone's news later on. Right now I need a drink.

This week is very strangely like my FFRR a few weeks ago:

Spent 3 days home w/ my sick daughter. If anyone knows where I can find a size 4T Haz Mat suit for when she goes to daycare,let me know!

Horrible over night sleep depriving shifts again at work starting on Monday!

I 'm getting the boot out of dept(after they chew us up and spit us out this next week) w/3 others based on seniority,thanks to new location not being as busy as everyone thought. However, there is a light...I may be able to get into a location closer to home- which of course, would land up being a blessing in disguise!

For the first time since I've moved here,I've misssed my friends terribly all week,more so w/ every Christmas card that has a NJ post mark on it!

The good news is that none of my rants are life threatening and all will be fine eventually...

Happy Holidays in advance...next Friday I'll be up to my ears in pies and cookies!

Mikemo: Congrats and kudos on the new dog. What a wonderful Christmas present to yourself!!

sppunk: Good luck with the interview.

ethel: Moving into a new house is a hassle, but what an exciting time!!

Gardyloo: Happy trip!! Wish I were going.

JJ5: I will say a New Years prayer for your sister. I'm glad she can enjoy the holidays with you.

OWJ: Hoping for the best for OWJ2.

Elizabeth Reed: Happy Birthday!! and many more. :-)

Rave: DH started his new job this week. He was overwhelmed at first, but now that his first week is over, he's feeling pretty good about things.

Rave: I just finished my 3rd week on the job, it's still going great.

Rave: I went to a lunch with friends from my old job this week. I will always miss working with those dear people, but I am very happy where I am now and I don't miss my old job anymore. (I just miss the people)

Rave: Office holiday party today w/White Elephant Exchange. My silly gift got the biggest laugh of all. The party was catered by Macaroni Grill. YUM!!

seetheworld, I know you're on vacation this week. Wherever you are, I hope you're having a blast!!

No rants today!! Hugs and happy holidays to all.

Rave: Finished Christmas shopping!!
Bigger Rave: My wife has her graduation for her PhD tomorrow at USF in Tampa. She has been working on it for the past 7 years and all of our family is coming to visit and attend the graduation ceremony.
Rave: Iraq elections took place with a huge turnout. Let's hope that this country can move forward with a stable government and allow our kids to come home soon.
Peace to all.

Rant:
Smoked tounge is $11.99 a pound. Wow, that's twice as much as a standing ribroast.

Rant: Am just finding this thread! Did several searches yesterday throughout the day?

Rave: Celebrated our 32 anniversary last night at Brassos Brazil, a local restaurant. I believe we had the best gaucho EVER and great food...tried a new drink (for me)...Caipirinha, which was great!

Rave: Paid off my car loan yesterday! I had had this as a goal, but unforeseen events this year had made it seem unlikely! YEAH!!!

GoTravel: My DH will be jealous! We had to stop and look at trucks last night, on the way home from the restaurant!! Congrats to your DH!

ethel: Congrats on the new home! How exciting!! (like you NEEDED more excitement, here at Christmas!):)

I'm with you on the necessary space! I don't find myself having to juggle things as much in the house, looking for space for different seasons, guests, exercise equipment, etc.

I also relate to the windows at work! For some reason, PT depts. always seem to be located in a basement! 31 years of that can get old!
Last April, I changed jobs and we have a whole wall of floor to ceiling windows as well as glass doors leading out to a nicely kept garden patio, where we can take our patients on nice days!
I love it!!

mikemo: Congrats on the new dog! DS an d DIL did the same about 2 years ago, and have not been disappointed! The little dog is smart and does serveral tricks!

bennie: I'll say 'thanks' to you and your friends for helping anonymously! More of us need to look around and see what we can do like that!((Y))

otto: I had asthma as a child...it can be frightening. The trick my mom used to do was to steam up our (then) very small bathroom or use a humidifier. It staved off the attacks in the middle of the night. I used this also with my kids.
Now, monthly allergy shots and daily antihistamine seems to keep me healthy!
Hope you get well quick!

JJ5: What is a sensaphone??

sppunk: Good luck!! And Merry 1st Christmas together...let there be MANY more!((Y))

cmcfong: I'm looking for your TR! Glad you had fun!

Bonniebroad: I'll bet your party put alot of smiles on alot of faces!
And I agreee with your only rant!!

OWJ: Am keeping you and yourDH in my prayers for the job!

Belle

Just met a woman on the street who said the new critter was the best looking Bichon Friese/Poodle mix she had ever seen - she, of course, had a champion Bichon which I knew nothing about.
I also had SO's adopted American Eskimo so we were quite a scene.
I sure miss my many Greyhounds.
M
Travelling next week, so, Feliz Navidad, Y'All.

Rave: Vegas, baby, Vegas! At this time next week (Saturday, 3 pm Hawaii time) you'll find me at a buffet with my friends before we head off to Mama Mia at the Mandalay.

Rant: I miss the good old days. You know what I mean.

Mikemo, we have a Bichon who is an insane force of nature. Howie was the runt of his litter and has short legs, but somehow managed to jump up on a cocktail table last night and devour a tray full of homemade pimento cheese with toasted pecans and crackers while I was taking our guests on a tour of the new house. He was so very satisfied and happy when we returned to the living room, and looked for all the world like Ignatius Reilly must have in <u>A Confederacy of Dunces</u>!

I gues that was a rant.

Other rants: cold weather! Workmen who have cut the phone/DSL line so many times (in the same place) I feel like putting a big sign out in the yard: Cut Here! Gravel driveways! (have you EVER heard of such a thing?) Remodeling while you are living in the house!

And the ranting-est rant of all: SEPTIC TANKS!

Raves: DH, who is so happy to be in new house he expansively acquiesces to all curtains, wallpapers, etc.! Mother, who has taken daughter at university in her town to countless eye appointments. Son who, after years of threatening to do so, finally astonished us with truly wonderful grades! Other son, who gave me a &quot;Christmas hug&quot; to get me in the spirit and graciously consented to attend yet another Nutcracker performance!

OWJ, I add my hopes and prayers for your husband's career. Any company would do well to land him! Fingers crossed and notes to heaven for his job!

kswl: I 'raised' two sons, so I know where you're coming from! ((Y))Good for you!

Belle

Thanks Belle---I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. If only it didn't look so much like the headlight of a train!

kswl, that is too funny about Howie! ((&amp;)) Merry Christmas to that energetic little guy! :p A few years ago, we had a crowd for a sit-down Christmas dinner, and were so busy that my husband forgot to feed Trissie, the sweetest, most well-behaved Cairn Terrier you'll meet. We were all about halfway through din-din when I glanced down to see Trissie, sitting at my husband's elbow, with a big slice of ham hanging from his mouth ... Somehow... =-O ...he jumped high enough to get it off the small serving side-table, but then was ashamed of himself and didn't know what to do with it! :-d The joy these little guys bring!!! What would we do without them ... :-) Have a Merry Christmas with Howie!

Belle, a sensaphone is a nifty device that attaches to a land line telephone plug in. It records constant temperature, noise level, electricity and gas power off/on, and other things also if you program or connect it to do so. Then when you set your guidelines it calls up to 4 telephone numbers if noise level changes, or temperature falls below a certain point etc.- whatever you have set it for.

And then you can also listen in as well to whatever is going on there for about 15-60 seconds. It's kind of an eyes/ears for being in two places at one time. LOL! This way I can know what's going on in MI 123 miles away and if there is an emergency freeze etc. that I can call someone for instead of replacing $1000s for pipes and fictures etc.

It's a lot more than some people would like to know, that's for sure. We laughed for 10 minutes after calling it the first time. Robot voice just going on and on. There's a freezeguard unit in existance that just does the temps- if you want something simpler. We got this one on e-bay for $197. It was a terrific buy.

And here's to all the mothers of boys. Even though they be gone, the hockey equipment smells may still linger on.

Only thing harder is to be the mother of girls, IMHO.

Thanks everyone for the prayers and peace and health to all.

kswl, SEPTIC TANKS, LOL. I had a new septic system put in this year. Loads of fun isn't it? My beautiful yard looked like bunker busting missles hit it.

Aaarg its cold today. 11 below this morning. The squirrels aren't even leaving thier nests to raid my bird feeder.

jorr,
I thought all the birds and butterflies
were now here in Central Mexico.
&quot;My&quot; roof cats are still chasing the very active squirrels.
The dogs care less and the birds are way faster.
M

JJ5: Thanks for the lesson on sensaphones!
Do you mind one more ? The noise level info...I presume that's for security? I can't imagine what other value it could be??

And, as for the septic tanks....my DH made certain that we had an EXCESS of field lines in our house plan when we built 8 years ago. Never had a problem (so far)! But our neighbors, who did not, have dug their yard up twice in that time.

The builder actually tried to get us to decrease the length of the lines when it came time to dig them, as he had not 'caught' the fact that we had so many until then, (and he, of course was looking to decrease his costs) but it was in the plans, so he had contracted to do them, and did.
That was ONE thing we did right!

Belle

mikemo, I have birds that come to the bird feeder throughout the winter. Black-capped Chickaddees, White-Breasted Nuthatches, American Goldfinches, and Hairy Woodpeckers. They do not migrate. Not to mention tens of thousands of Canada Geese and dozens of White Swans which hang around here throughout the winter. I can't figure out how they can handle extreme temps.

Belle, my entire system had to be replaced. Some of it was 75 years old and the remainder was 40 years old.

Jorr

jorr: I love sitting in the swing and watching birds. My parents home especially has a nice variety ...they feed them massive amounts of seeds year round!

I had to take my bluebird house down this year...for the third year there was definite evidence that the neighbor's cat got the little ones! ...even with a baffle! I just couldn't raise cat food anylonger! But I do love bluebirds!

Belle