BonnieBroad, Howie is a darling dog and we put up with him just like we would a crazy toddler, or a favorite aunt with a wandering mind.

Jorr, we have two septic tanks, just so we'll have EXTRA fun. Until we moved to Georgia I only had a hazy idea of what a septic tank does and now I know Far Too Much.

jorr, the swans don't migrate at my MI lake either. They are not trumpeteers, but mute Canadian and huge. There was a total of 13 between the 3 large lakes in late Nov. and I think the adolescent males were the only ones chased off.

They are tough, and winter in the marsh and wet lands. It's below zero there today too.

My septic was cleaned last year, by my choice, and I think that I will be forced to get sewers in the next decade if I keep the house. Civilization is coming to it. It will cost me a fortune as they are going to build a new sewerage plant in the county as well.

Although it will keep the lake clean, I will get an accessment I can not afford in any measure. So will the scattering of elderly who live near me there and have for 50 to 60 years. I bet it is going to force the remaining fixed income people out.

I replaced a big septic in IN and it looked like a bomb crater too, jorr, until I really landscaped etc.

Belle, I had something worse than a neighbor's cat. Hold onto your chair. When I lived in Texas huge rat snakes crawled up the fig ivy on my house and patio supports to eat baby birds in nests hidden in the ivy and in hanging pots. One time I saw the lump in his belly when it slithered down from a hanging pot.

I've seen black snakes go into bluebird boxes and also a hole in a dead poplar tree where there was a nest.

Well, if this was a snake, it was a FURRY one!!lol....there was (cat) hair on the roof and front of the bird house!:((

Belle

Ole Belle- you just made me giggle...

PM< KSWL and OSB--Thanks for OWJ2's good wishes. The negotiations continue tomorrow. It's so much easier in teaching: interview, get an offer and accept/decline. The end. Not with the biz world, apparently. Ay yay yay!

KSWL--Good luck with the house stuff and have a most Merry Christmas w/all.

PM, Belle--Have a very Merry too!!!

Thanks Debbie---and a Happy Holidays to you and Mr. OWJ!

OWJ: Tell me about it! Last year, DH was being considered for a 'City Manager' job. There was all kinds of hype on the local talk radio, newspaper and (less so), TV. As it worked out, he decided it wasn't for him (before an offer was publicly made), surprising and dissapointing the local talk show DJ, among others (as he looked like the favored candidate)....it was a very interesting time at our house!

Keep us up to date!

Belle

don't know where else to rant / vent, so here goes: is anyone else tired of the "chipper" office people & all their busy plans, & secret santas? I hate to be the scrooge, but, it's driving me nuts, so much work to be done to close at end of year business, but, they're annoying!!!!!!!!!

Hi CJBROWN

Did you know you pulled up a FFR&R from last December? :-) Probably all those happy people at work singing instead of working just flustered you!

Was this thread moved from the lounge?

Hi Faina
Since it's a year old, I don't think it was ever in the lounge.

LOL oh thank you CD!

I hope it's not a disservice to everybody in the lounge, as it looks like I've directed that brown guys there!

I am laughing out loud at my post from one year ago, that little cmcfong got the same sentiment from me last year this time as this year, LOL.

Fun to read these from one year ago...

And I appreciate it, Tiff!!!! With luck you can post the same message to me next December.......

Absolutely, my friend!!!!!

(isn't that hysterical???? I am so glad you saw it, I was belly laughing!)

Me, too!!!! Oh, and thanks for highlighting those BorkChop turtles...everyone in the grocery store had to join the search for Rolos, but I have them now and the turtles are going in a lot of stockings...Happy holidays.

sundowner, I just read your comments and No, honey, in no way did I mean you when I remarked on people and their dogs!
I just had a similar rant to my husband lol poor thing, he gets to hear <b>all</b> of my rants on various subjects lol...Someone asked me why not get rid of pup instead of going through the complicated steps required to fly him somewhere...my response was, when my children got annoying, I should have gotten rid of them too??
LOL

Rave:
Baby Boy is home.
Baby Boy is unconscious ~lol~ from 2 day trip from Japan..but he is here :D

Happy Holidays, Fodorfriends!

LOL, a year ago I was vacationing at Wentworth by the Sea - I never did finish that trip report! D: I wish I was there right now!!