What A Long Strange Year Its Been

Trying to come up with something deep and philosophical as a Bon Voyage message to 2008. Although I know the value of time, I am going to say so glad to get this one behind me... for multiple reasons.

As precious as time is, I am happier about the changes that occurred and I do feel like 2009 will be like opening the long awaited sequel to the cliff hanger called 2008.

New characters? I hope so. Twists and turns? Oh yeah. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll? Maybe, no and always.

So Buh Bye, 2008, you made me wiser, which is good, older which I resist, and excited to put you behind me.

No resolutions, BTW, just going to keep on keepin on.

LYChampagne Guts

Bj

ps. Happy Birthday to my friend Alex, aka Daddio Rivers, who is aging like fine wine. Cheers, A! Since we can't run away together, I'll see you AND the redhead in 09

Feliz Navidad, Yall

Sneaking this in before M2 rises and we hit the ground running, to grab a few last minute things, meet Aunt T for lunch, pack for a trip, and be somewhere early evening. I'm gonna need some major coffee today....

I wanted to answer the Christmas Survey from Our Name is Mud, and also wish you all a great holiday with your family and friends. Although I don't know alot of you face to face, I feel like I have a whole new circle of wonderful friends that I can't live without.

So thanks for another addiction. I'll just add you to my others.....

Do you use Giftwrap or Giftbags?

Giftwrap! I'm tired of the bags, unless you have some strange shaped item (MT-Like a Liberator?) ...AND if you have a Container Store within 1000 miles at you at Christmas, stop by one. It is a Giftwrap Junkie paradise, and they probably have had to ask women to stop rubbing the peppermind swirl paper over their bodies, its that good....

At least they were nice about it.

Real or Artificial Tree?

We've done both, however, Super D is extremely allergic to fresh trees and she was coming to stay with us last Christmas so M2 and I went out and purchased a fake one. While I'm looking at the gorgeous, 8 ft Wisconsin Plastic Pines, she's over loading up one the color of Dr Seuss Green...as in lime. So I said, why the hell not and that is our tree. For now. Until the sled team decides they've had enough and stop eating the ornaments and go for the gold..or the lime green lower branches. Its a matter of minutes.

Whats on Top of your tree?

We have an empty Christmas Coke bottle upside down on it right now-Swear, I couldn't find the star.

Eggnog?

OMG Yes. But I do buy the Light version, what a joke, its probably 999 calories instead of 1000. And I like a little Jack Daniels in mine, thank you. And keep em coming.

Nativity Scene?

Yes, somewhere, in the attic, I stopped getting things down at about the 67% mark of the crap up there, so it didn't make the cut this year. I also asked M2 if she wanted to have a 'Living Nativity Scene' in our front yard, and the Sled Team could be the three wise dogs, but she said nope. What a Party Pooper.

Favorite Christmas Movie?

Home Alone & Elf. I could watch Home Alone daily. I don't know why, and it has actually slightly concerned Super D when I watched during the summer of pregnancy. While craving 1000 Island dressing and crying over AT&T commercials....

I forgot the rest of the questions, so that will have to do for now. I have been trying to get into the feeling of Christmas and I finally had my moment yesterday. Bought some Spiced Cider, lit some candles, and suddenly it felt like Christmas. Hope you have had your moment or you get it soon....

Merry Merry..

LY Mistletoe Guts,

Bj

A Very British Christmas Afternoon...

M2 and I spent a lovely afternoon/evening with the Brits doing a traditional British thing at Christmas. There is a play that is always a spin on a nursery rhyme or story, but men are women and women are men and there is always a ghost and people boo and hiss and get into it.

Sheila (yes our S) orchastrated us all getting together, many weeks ago and sent a note out about did we want to go see the Panto...thats the name of it. I asked what is it, she explained, I said we'd love to, and promptly wrote the word Panko on my calendar. Like breadcrumbs.

My Texas/Blonde hair interpretation of a Panto, yall....

Then, after a wonderful show, the two men veer off to the grocery store and pick up things for dinner, and Sheila and her DH, Chris, fix a gourmet dinner in the Barnes kitchen, while Alan and I tasted all the Chardonnays and Belle set a gorgeous table, complete with 'crackers' that you pop open before dinner and get out your prizes. Each cracker has a paper crown, which of course I adore, so we all put on our crowns and told the jokes and riddles that were in them and feasted on an impromptu dinner. Even M2 and Baby Barnes were enjoying themselves with the 'big kids' as we all toasted a great day and great friends.

So a Royal curtsey to my Brits (plus S) that I couldn't live without, especially when there's entertainment and food involved. Well Done!!!

And there was no marmite anywhere....

LY Tally Ho the Fox Guts, (that one's for Belle)

Bj

Things I don't want for Christmas

-another dog

-gas prices going back up

-an unexpected root canal

-forced conversation at any holiday party

-underwear from Walmart

-bad wine

-warm weather that makes it feel like spring

-service like we got the other night at Chili's

-crazy airport security lines

-fruitcake

Over on Our Name is Blog, she wants us to post what our worst gift ever was. Well, sorry Super D, it wasn't from you, but it was from Aunt R. She gave me a mismatched, tarnished, bundle of silver spoons that were bent, ugly, etc. tied up with used ribbon. Now the part that only my Sister A&B and SD will understand, she hands these things to you like you have won an award. And then gives you the all the background on how she got them. And would probably ask you if you got them out of your house if it was on fire.....

I will say, when I was younger, I got some good stuff from her too. So there. There is my tit for tat and tat for Miss Thystle.

LYdontgivemeadog or fruitcake guts,

Bj

CLASS ACT

Congrats to our QB, Sam Bradford winning the Heisman Trophy last night over Tim Tebow from Florida and Curt McCoy from Texas.

I would say hahaha, or suck it to the losers, but I won't be like that right now. See you swamp animals on Jan 8th, and boo hoo, we won't see Texas in Miami at all....Go Bucks on that one......

Boomer Sooner....

LY its almost over just put up with this a little longer Guts,

Bj

You Know You Want It...

ok... stay with me...

this blog is about Butternut Squash. No kidding. I actually feel inclined to write about this because I've never had to expand so much effort gettting a vegetable to my dinner table. Here's the deal;

I go to dinner at a new Italian place (Brio-Allen, TX) with my friend Kelly (hey Kelly Kelly) and she orders Chicken & BNS Risotto. It was divine. So I think I'd like to make it at home, start looking for recipes, etc. And then I see the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network roasting it one day. Then I see someone else making soup. Then I see someone making hummus. I think damn, I need to branch out a little and check this most popular little squash out. So M2 and I head to Farmers Market one day and no one has any, except one lady and she wants 2.50 for a little one. No thanks! I'll get one at Wally World for about half that. No wonder she snickered at me and said something in Spanish to her friend. As Scandalous Housewife says, "QLF?" (spanish for WTF?)

So, next trip to WW, they are out of it. So next trip to Tom Thumb, they have plenty. I pay no attention to the price, throw it in the basket and as I'm checking out, I see on the register that this humble, ugly pale yellow tube with a bulb on the end just rang up for 8.87. Insert another QLF?and promptly took it out of the cart to return it back to its people in the produce section. Did I miss BNS in the Neimans Catalog?? Come on, its good, but $9 ?? Then I flash back to the woman at Farmers Market. She's probably STILL smirking about that one. It momentarily comes off the must have list, but damn. now I really want one. So next trip to WW, I get one, 3.60, bring it home, stare at it, and think of carving my initials into the side of it before I peel, cube and roast. It was almost like I had brought someone or something home and laid it on my kitchen counter and I was staring at it and it was smirking at me. It had truly become a mission I had to accomplish. So, I peel the damn thing and that is not an easy task. Note- I need a new peeler. THEN, I seed it cube it oil it salt it pepper it massage it name it drive it around the block to see Christmas lights and then pop it in my oven for 30 mins at 325. I can hardly wait. Then, the time has arrived, take it out let it cool, and put one in my mouth.

Mmm, but wait a minute...THAT TASTES LIKE A SWEET POTATO AND I MAKE THOSE ALL THE TIME. QLF???

Just like a good date gone bad, the romance was over right at that moment with Bill, the Butternut Squash.

I think I'll caller ID him if he calls again. I'm going out with Steve Sweet Potato. He's cheap and easy.

Love your gourd family guts,

Bj

Alligator Boots for Christmas??? I'd Love Some..

WELL, WELL WELL.....

Sorry this is still about football, but man, this has been a great football season for my SOONERS. And would you look at that, we are going to Miami for the BCS Championship game against Florida. Even better is I have a friend that is a huge Gator fan (sucks for him), but we will have the smack talk going until Jan 8 around 8 pm. And then, there is the Ohio State vs Texas in the Fiesta Bowl . I've never muttered these words, but I have to say GO BUCKS! Send those LHorns home to Austin and make them sit in a corner until next year for being such whiners. How about this banner you babies....

Are You Ready for a Buckeye Ass Whipping??

I'd chip in for that one.......

After January, and a little gloating, this blog will resume its kind hearted public service type announcements that you have all grown used to. But until then, game on........

LYSoonerBig12Champion Guts,

Bj

Its hard to be a SOONER FAN among all of these bitter Longhorns......

This subject matter is probably regional because being an OU fan living in Dallas, that is like hmm.....driving your car the wrong way down the street during the middle of the Macy's Day Parade shooting at the balloons with a BB gun (just trying to relate to current events~) - you're just not popular, and you don't care, you just keep on driving......



So, there is some BITTERNESS being tossed around by Texas (wah wah wah) that they didn't make it to the Big 12 game this weekend. First there was a banner being flown over the stadium in Stillwater during the OU-OSU game. I mean really, that is so like showing up at a party that you are not invited to. With a tacky outfit and a bad gift. Then there was a rumor that Texas Tech was going to fly something over the campus in Norman, but guess they couldn't get enough change gathered up. So, someone in Oklahoma flies a banner over UT that says 'Quit whining Mac, you knew the rules'...Meaning their coach Mac Brown, and the BCS rules to determine the playoffs.

One reporter in Oklahoma says this BCS controversy is good for the airplane banner business/economy.

I say suck it up. This is how the cookie crumbles, and hey, we're OU.
You're not.

LY Big 12 Guts,
Bj

Looking for a new hobby? I can hook you up...

While looking for any remedy for dealing with mountains of dog hair, I kept reading down the list that Google had provided. There are brushes, dog oils, $100 shampoos, vitamins, you name it, someone has created something to rid your life of it.

However, this is the one that caught my eye:

What to do with the Dog Hair?
If you groom your dog regularly, you can always make good use of your dogs fur coat by making something warm for yourself! Some people might have a problem wearing the fur of their loved one, why not make a special keepsake or memento out of it?
Remarkably, spinning dog hair into yarn makes an incredible material! Dog fur can be up to 80% warmer than wool, it is extremely durable, and fluffs over time to a soft cashmere like touch. People make all sorts of things out of their dogs fur, from sweaters and scarf’s, to socks and mittens.

So don't be surprised when that Colonel Sanders album shows up, there's a little scarf wrapped around it in the multi-colors of Scottie, Lab/Healer, and Basset Hound.

Wucky u......

L Y 80% warmer guts,

Bj

Look What I Bought You For Christmas....

WASN'T IT YOU THAT HAD A COLONEL SANDERS CHRISTMAS ALBUM ON YOUR LIST??????

I thought so.....

Greetings former Turkey Stuffers, now Christmas Shoppers, its time to shake that piggy bank and buy something for someone in some color at some store and wrap it up in some paper....!!!!

Yahoo!!! Need my list yet?

I am actually ahead of myself slightly, having a huge football day to keep me anchored at home, and out of the stores, so Christmas decoration prep is well underway at the House of Tail. However, I had to bribe my GF, Cougarista/Mom of Western Hills Drive, to come over later today and help me yank it all out of the attic, because I haven't seen that attic in years. There could be a whole new world up there just waiting for me.....or alot of crap. She and I have decided to find every free event in a 50 mile radius of Dallas to drag these kids to, so by the time Dec. 26th rolls around, they will have tinsel coming out of their noses.

My Sooners got an early Christmas present today, after bumping up to the #2 slot ahead of Texas!!! Thank you Santa!! Miami sounds great in January, so you may go ahead and slip me some plane tickets in my stocking....

LY Candy Cane Guts,

Bj

Stuffing things other than your bra....

Morning/Afternoon in some cases to all of you:

M2 is sleeping in late, ala no school, and when she is up we are off to the big famers market downtown to hunt and gather our prey of vegetables and whatever else those wacky farmers have down there today. Then we will be back and in the kitchen, where I will attempt to make my grandmothers dressing which I've never made, only know how it is supposed to taste, so I suppose that is one point in my favor.....

I have watched too many cooking shows this week and the variety of things that get stuffed into turkeys is mind boggling. My favorite, though, and I'm oddly fascinated by it, is someone I know is stuffing his turkey with White Castle hamburgers. No cheese, no pickles, his directions were 'cram as many up there as you can'. I had not heard the technique of 'cram' on the Food Network but if I did, it would be Guy Fieri with the white spiked hair. I heart him, BTW. He would say cram it up in there. And then take a sip of his cocktail. He needs to take that ring off of his hand though, it borders on Mr. T, fool.... oops, sorry, went off the story line....

ANYWAY, here's the deal. I'll think about you nut jobs tomorrow and be thankful you are out there. I wouldn't know some of you if you were sitting in my kitchen, but thats ok, you are welcome in my kitchen any time. We are expecting gorgeous weather for Tday, and family and friends and all that and life is good and kumbaya and pumpkin pie...

Have a great holiday, no matter what your stuffing is, and no matter where you are.

LYGiblet Guts,

Bj

BOOMER SOONER BABY

WELL, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT SCORE...............

65-21!!!!

Saturday night was fun in SO many ways, and although Sheila did not get a Tech win for her birthday, we all had too much fun anyway. Thanks to Val, fabulous time at your house as always, hope the aftermath wasn't too bad.

So, now the Sooners go to OSU in Stillwater next week and if we can keep this momentum going, it would keep us ahead of UT. I love this time toward the end of the season, its like a big pot of soup and the ingredients keep changing...

Here's the conversation over the BCS Menu:

Hi what are you having today?

I would like the Florida-Alabama special, heavy on the Florida

Sorry, we aren't serving that for two weeks, and we won't be sure about how heavy Florida is until the shipment of Auburn comes in.

How about the USC special?

Good choice, however Trojans may only be available in the mens room if we have any say in the matter.

Hmmm, Is the OU All The Teams You Can Eat Buffet still available?

Absolutely, and that should be our best special of all. We will put the UT ingredients on the grill, sprinkle it with some OSU orange flavoring, and hopefully have the BCS sandwich in our hands very soon.

Desert will be served in the Miami area...........

LY Pigskin Guts

Bj

Freaky Friday

If I owned this dog, I would also need the last hat from ournameisblog.blogspot.com when I walked him. They kinda go hand in hand, don't cha think?

Good to Know............

never enough

this picture has nothing to do with this post....well maybe it does.... I was going to spank the hand of people who aren't grateful for what they have but .......I had to just shove that down my own throat...read on..

Learning lots of lessons these days, pretty much the hard way, but none the less, learning. Still reeling from my friends death, and my own divorce, but now there is another divorce in the family that is equally hard to swallow. Everyone seems to be in their own orbit of their own planets, and I just decided that my plate is very full, running over, and may have a crack in it. Remember me? My glass is usually half full and I will share it with you if you need some. Not so much today.

I initially started this post to remind people that what they have is probably plenty, good enough, whatever, because lately I have been pretty sick of people that don't count their blessings. But now I'm having to suck it up and remind myself that too. That we are the only ones we truly can count on for our own fortitude, and the rest is icing. Don't get me wrong, I would be lost without the people around me, but when the day is over and you crawl into bed, you'd better have your shit together because you are your caretaker. I think I was looking around for someone to save me, and I fight the fact I have to save myself. Its a wonderful Pisces trait.

So, I'm back from my beach vacation with Guy and George and looking at the holidays with a little anxiety to make it wonderful for M2, who deserves it because 11 should be a great age for Christmas, while sucking it up and dealing with the Ranch Hand, and fa la la and all that. You can file this blog under "what the hell is wrong with her?" and I'll get over this funk like always and keep on keepin on. Thats what I do. Somedays, better than others.

LYG

Bj

Get This Party Started....

Pretend the following:

1. You scored a great house for a long weekend and unlimited funds for a huge gathering.

2. Of course your normal (or notnormal for many of you) friends would come along, but we'll make it a destination place that needs a plane ticket to get there so Drunk Neighbor or Icky cousin George can't just show up.

3. Name five people you would have at this party, and the location if you want to really go into fantasy mode.

Mine would go as follows:

Beach location, probably Cozumel cause you all know I love that place, and there would be a fabulous house right on a large private beach lighted with candles with great music and people named Jorge and Carlos bringing me margaritas.

I would invite:

1. Guy Fiorelli (need to check the spelling on that last name) because not only can he cook and that is a turn on, he is funny as hell and I need to touch that hair in this lifetime.

2. Craig Ferguson, for my BFF Cynthia, who tvo's his show and forces me to watch it and I have kind of started to 'get him'. They will wander off together after a few shots of Tequilla that she is famous for doing in Mexico, and we may not see them the rest of the evening. Plus, I've learned in the last 20 years that a Brit at a party is insurance for laughing so hard that things may come out of your nose...

3. Trace Atkins- that country singer with the long hair; he seems like a cool guy, but that voice...! DAYUM! I could sit and listen to that voice over a few margaritas...

4. Ron White- google him if you don't know who he is, he's one of the redneck comedians that got famous a few years back. He's the least 'red', but that guy is a slow burn toward hilarious while he downs a fifth of Dewars.

5. Wanda Sykes- she makes me pee in my pantalones....

The only rule is don't say "Felix Jackson" like we are going to know who the hell you are talking about. Explain him, and I guess why, and he'd better be fun cause there are steep cliffs are in Cozumel.

Boring people get tossed at midnight.

LY Fantasy Guts,

Bj

Our Lady of Perpetual Verbosity

Disclaimer to the above photo; I am in no way, no how, trying to upset any of my fine Catholic readers, whom I'm sure number in the thousands by now, by using this pic. I found this piece on a site called Mexican Grocer, and it is actually the picture of a puzzle they sell. And you can also get Our Lady of PV on playing cards too, when a good game of Catholic strip poker breaks out.

I've been doing this blog thing for approx 5 months, finding new friends/chicks like me/etc and lately I've been told I'm verbose. Honestly, I had to look it up, and frankly, I was hoping the definition was witty, charming, and wise. Not so much. Basically it means I talk alot. In writing. So I've been thinking about a new style, a new approach, a new outlook on this newest description of me and I can't do it. As Megan (Smartini) says, this is the stuff thats in the freezer called my head. And its been in there a long time, some of it coded with a sharpie as to the contents and the cooked on date, and then there are mystery bags that just need to be thawed to find out what is in them. So I have decided to keep on serving this buffet of previously frozen items, and I apologize in advance for the run on sentences and lack of correct punctuation and randomness and my Texas accent that you say I have but I don't hear it and my occasional post when I've had Chardonnay and talking about dog fights and raising a child and my Oklahoma Sooners.

You must come over when I find the foil package in there somewhere that when thawed and microwaved will surely be about being chased by a buffalo, and the tupperware that has the story of me traveling to Louisianna with my cremated cat in the backseat.

You'll love them so much, you'll want the recipe.

LY Perpetual Guts,

Bj

Look Who's Coming to Dinner

Looking at the calendar of upcoming events and decided to get my shit together and figure out the upcoming 'Holi-Daze'. Normally, which is no longer part of my dialogue, you just assume you are going here or there and seeing them and them and then go home. But now, with a house divided, I am having to schedule Thanksgiving Day around who is cooking when, and all that. But its ok, once again, just an adjustment not a problem.

I started digging out recipes and looking for something different and then I thought, hell, all of you are 'different' in so many ways, send me the following:

-any recipes other than turkey & dressing and sweet potatoes, unless all three end up in a blender together, and if so, you are on your own anyway

-something that you always have, or want to try or a really different twist on a classic.

-traditions you follow other that food; mine is that m2 and I get up and cook together in our pajamas while we watch the Macy's Day Parade and she has hot chocolate and I have Baileys & Coffee....

-I actually had to cook the turkey last year and never had done that part so I was nervous and then Tyler Florence (yumm) was on the Today show and said when your turkey is close to being done, lay bacon across the top and finish cooking it that way and I did and it was heaven.

-any disasters, I love those stories. This is true; my grandmother would always set the most beautiful table, all the china, crystal, etc, she pulled out all the punches on TG and Christmas. I think her table sat about 8 or 10 people and it was all ready to go. Well, we show up with our new dog, a dachaund named Schnitzel, and he decides he is going to chase the cat through the house and the cat shoots up on the table that is completely set and runs down the middle and that damn dog went right behind the cat down the middle of the table. Shit was flying off the table, my grandmother, Mama B, freaked, got the broom and chased them through the house and I believe Schnitzel was tied outside the rest of the visit.

Share your turkey love right here....

Notes from a Chili Cookoff...

Hey, trying to get a little back into the game, and decided to post something funny that you all would like. Its from my friend Tim in Ohio, who personally I think he thinks we Texans (and Oklahoman's) are total rednecks. But a Chili-Cookoff in Texas should be on your short list of things to do. Long but worth the read:

The notes are from an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting Texas from the East Coast: Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The Judge #3 called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions to the Budweiser truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted.

"Here are the scorecards from the event:

Chili # 1 (Mike's Maniac Mobster Monster Chili)

Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

Judge # 2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.

FRANK: Holy sh*t, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.

Chili # 2 (Arthur's Afterburner Chili)

Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.

Judge # 2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

FRANK-- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.

Chili # 3 (Fred's Famous Burn Down the Barn Chili)

Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Needs more beans.

Judge # 2 -- A beanless chili, a bit salty, good use of peppers.

FRANK-- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting sh*t-faced from all of the beer!

Chili # 4 (Bubba's Black Magic)

Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.

FRANK -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the barmaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb. b*tch is starting to look HOT... just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?

Chili # 5 (Linda's Legal Lip Remover)

Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.

Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.

FRANK-- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.

Chili # 6 (Vera's Very Vegetarian Variety)

Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers

Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.

FRANK-- I sh*t myself when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that sl*t Sally. She must be kinkier than I thought. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my ass with a snow cone.

Chili # 7 (Susan's Screaming Sensation Chili)

Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.

Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.

FRANK-- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava-like sh*t to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing, it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.

Chili # 8 (Tom's Toe-nail Curling Chili)

Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.

Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge # 3 passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. Poor dude, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili.

Tonight I saw a dark cloud with the sun behind it

I have several coffee cups that I love, and many I never drink anything out of. I should get rid of those. But the ones I love have meaning, either the place I got them or the person I got them from. And I always chose one of the special ones over and over, every morning.

I had a friend named Dessa who lived in Austin, Texas and was the funniest, goofiest, good hearted person you could know. I met her through work and she ended up being a great friend and I loved every part of her, her spirit, her laugh, and just knowing I had a 'work day' lined up with her when she was in town. More than once, we had to pull over on the side of the road and gain composure because we were laughing so hard.

And then yesterday I got a phone call. That my wonderful darling friend had taken her life. She had gotten so far down in a dark place and couldn't find her light or any light I guess, and just checked out on us. I am sad beyond sad because I tried to reach out to her, but couldn't get her to hear me.

The last time I was with her, when things were still good, we went to a cool place in Austin that sold tea and herbs, and just this and that. I picked up a coffee cup that a local artist had made, and it felt good in my hand, was the right size, just perfect if you like coffee cups. I showed it to her but it was $20 and I didn't need a $20 coffee cup at that moment.
So we bought other things and left, and the next day when I was packing to come home, I looked in my bag and there was that cup. And she laughed and said that 'you loved that cup and life is too short not to have good things in our life....'

I don't know how to deal with this exactly, just crying in waves and talking to friends and collegues that knew her. I know I tried so hard to reach her during the spiral downward, but nothing I could have said would have fixed the place she was in.

And her life was way too short, but mine is good because I had her in it for a while.

LYG
Bj

turn it up and DANCE

Ok, I'm feeling all blah...and suddenly thought, I need some music! And you probably need some music!! So keep your quarters, its free on Mondays, and any day for that matter, and tune in to a few of my favs that may get me up to vacuum or fold clothes....or drink a glass of wine.

This mix may sound like I've already had too many, but lets just say I like this about that...

http://canarelli.org/Clocks.mp3

http://lfa.atu.edu/music/barber/guitar/EverytimeIRolltheDice.mp3

http://www.pocketlint.org/music/leonableedinglove.mp3

http://affordablecomputerz.com/music/JimmyBuffettWhyDontWeGetDrunkandScrew.mp3

LY dancing guts
Bj

One Down, Two to Go.....

Ok, just a few more thoughts about how much fun this weekend was and then we'll move on and talk turkey and mistletoe. If you want.

First. It was Friday. Best day of the week when 5 oclock rolls around.

Second. I early voted. And, ahhhem, cough cough, the word Palin was no where to be found on my ballot.

G to the Race will be happy to know that secret information.

C. We had a blast trick or treating, oh and the kids did too. So many great costumes, like this one of Michael Phelps...he was about 18 months old and the biggest smile on his face. Boys like these are what I call Chubby Bubby's...he got extra candy from me to keep those thighs happy.

And although we didn't get photos of some of the adults, we came up on a house that had a group out front, and realized last year three guys in this group were all dressed up like slasher movie characters and very scary and this year they were Cinderella, Bo Peep, and The Little Mermaid, complete with beards, beers, and cigars. My GF that I was with made a note of the address cause we're not going to miss that group ever. And they had great candy. And wandering down the street was a guy covered in moss and he kept jumping out at people from behind cars and it was pretty funny.........cause he didn't do it to us.

So Now. Throw out the Jack O Lanterns while eating small Almond Joys, tell the girls down under we are moving on to our next Holi-Daze which they don't celebrate, and start surfing for new things to do with turkey.

Like let someone else cook it.

LY Little Pumpkin Guts,

Bj

The Best Self Portrait I've Ever Seen In My Life;

This is what happens when you draw your self portrait by looking in the mirror while looking down at your shirt that says I Love Tulsa.........and oh, you are five........

I'd hang that one over the fireplace :)

I've Been Deemed Brilliant...WTH?

. Ok, the surprises just keep coming but stop laughing long enough to acknowledge my latest (and only) blog award. Yeah. Really. It comes from Down Under, from Le on ThirdontheRight.com, who is so adorable and lovely and down to earth and obviously smart (!) And she has two darling kids and a great husband!! And good taste! I accept this award from my living room with the Sled Team as my audience and will try to live up to ...not sure what...and pass it on to some others that I heart .

Thanks Le, I'm gonna show up one day down under and stay a while..

LYAG (love your Austrailian Guts)

Bj

My favorites that I can't live without, kind of like free drugs online, are:

1.Our Name is Blog
2. Wait Wait Theres More
3. Miss Thystle
4. Give Me a Minute I'll come up with something
5. The Smartini Girls

you can check them out on my links, well worth the trip...

Party Over Here.....

This was a pic of our weekend getaway, at the wedding of our friends Jennifer and Kenny. Just thought you all needed to know that we clean up and look pretty damn good! Sheila, Bj, and Racie....

Smells

Zoo uses Vicks VapoRub to stop Meerkats fighting



Zoo keepers have come up with a ingenious way to stop meerkats from fighting - hide their scent with Vicks VapoRub.
Experts at Paultons Park near Romsey in Hampshire were concerned that their two existing meerkats would fight with three new arrivals when they were introduced to the family attraction.
So they came up with the plan to use the decongestant - known to millions of humans who want to ease their cold symptoms.

I think it is a good / bad curse to be sensitive to smells.

I can recall things from 30 years ago, so can Sister B, when we smell something and I mean, like Aunt Rosie's front bedroom or so and so's car that use to take us to school. Now that is just weird sometimes, and then the curse of it is the phrase 'do you smell that?' and someone goes 'no' and I say 'you're kidding' and then I have to be a mouth breather until it passes. Taught M2 that trick recently when we visited a 'ladies' room at a funky old Dallas restaurant and I should have walked out and called the health department. But we were laughing too hard to be really good at the mouth breathing and just had to flee the scene of the crime...and never return to that place in this lifetime.

Earlier, I admitted that I am hooked on Vicks Vaporub. It is a family joke almost, that if I'm at your house, there will be a little blue bottle on the nightstand. I use to rub M2 down in it when she was little and would be sick, and claim she was CURED the next morning by the power of Vicks, can I get an amen... Super D went to Mexico one time and found it in a little tin with a Spanish label and mailed it to me. Then I got a note from her later that said, be careful, the Vicks from Mexico also had Spanish Fly in it...

Now do you wonder where the hell I get this from????
I inherited the 'she ain't right' genes....

I am also hooked on Quelque Fleur perfume, so if that is a prize in anyones giveaway, let me know. Its 'pensive' but I would drink it if I thought it would smell any better. When I run out, I'm like a junkie looking for the cosmetic counter at Nordstroms. And if I'm in a coma and you come visit me in the hospital, put some QF in the IV and I'll probably rise up and start speaking French while applying lipgloss.

Come to think of it, I think I'll keep some QF handy in case I meet someone worthy of a spray behind the ears, and some Vicks in case I meet up with some bad ass Meerkats.

LYG
Bj

Oh Me, Oh My, Oh Pumpkin Pie....

Time is surely slipping away before our eyes and I'm not quite ready, as usual, to be not quite ready for the holidays. Halloween kind of sneaks up, then, bamn, its Thanksgiving, and the next morning its Christmas. At least that is what it ALWAYS feels like. The people that set these holidays must have had SO much fun at Halloween, they said, man lets have another real soon, and then that was even more fun so they said damn, we need another! There's still some eggnog left!!

It could have happened like that....

M2 has randomly put together the HW costume, complete with freaky mask and pajamas- not sure what she it. I, however, will be Linc from the Mod Squad as I think its time to bring the bouncing afro out this year.
Plaid pants, white shoes...I love going trick or treating with the gaggle of children we end up with each year, and the other mother that goes dresses up too. Oh and we drink wine as we go !!! Thats probably how I came up with the idea that when its later and the non-costumed trick or treaters too old to be doing this teenagers stop by, I start dropping packages of soy sauce and parmesan cheese into their pillowcases...

Trailer Park Trick or Treating, Yahoooooo!!!

here's a little favorite of mine
http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/946542_jz6lk/alo-EveryLittleThingAboutYou

Boo-
Bj

FREAKY FRIDAY..

Keepin it simple like LV and Miss T, throw something out here that isn't quite normal. Something you:

Saw, thought, did, bought, drank, smelled, cussed at, chased, laid on, stood on, talked about, paid for, got for free, .... you name it, the floor is yours. But mop up any spills, I'm not in the cleaning mood today.

LYG

Bj

music is always free on Fridays.........

http://www.andianderson.com/santana_winning.mp3

Takin Out the Trash.....

I'll try not to get all serious and too deep with these following thoughts, but events in the last few days made me compare things in my life to the act of rolling the cans to the curb this morning. I had a conversation with the Ranch Hand and it ended with me being pissed off, and girls, I don't know about you, but I can clean a castle when I'm mad. Sister B asks me 'what are you avoiding' when I tell her I'm cleaning baseboards with a toothbrush, but this time it was more like 'take that' and 'that' and 'that'as I filled the trashcan with shit from what used to be our garage. Oh yes, I am reclaiming that space, slowly but surely, and you can bet your toolboxes it will look like a friggin HGTV episode when I'm done.

You know what? The sofas are next, so I can get the mental picture of him sitting on them out of my head, and we may go oriental and put pillows around the coffee table and eat with chopsticks. I'll call it the Yoko phase.

Hopefully, when I look back at these posts maybe this time next year, I will see the slow improvements, mentally and materially in my life and be in the place that I can only see right now in my head. But if I'm walking around with a silk kimono drinking Saki, slap me. The Yoko phase isn't supposed to be permanent. Looking for the me phase...

and just a quick Mom moment to add- I was worried that M2's grades might suffer because of these monumental changes in her life, and she just got straight A's with three honors classes..... Mini Yoko is going to be just fine.

Ahh So,

Bj

forgot to give you some tunes to go with, I am diggin Leona Lewis

http://files1.mailboxdrive.com/freemp3s/a/ashybaby0x@aol.com/709941.mp3

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, & FIREARMS.........who's bringing the chips?

I just experienced the State Fair of Texas, which, by itself on a REGULAR fair day is large, alot of walking, and alot of people. (saw the title to this post on a tshirt for sale, and I didn't buy one cuz they didn't have it on a tube top, which is fair apparel) Then throw in the OU-TX game and about 50,000 more people either wearing RED or orange and it is insanity drinking beer. Which I had for breakfast, thank you very much....A Shiner Bock and a Fletchers Corny Dog at 10 am isn't for the meek...it was wall to wall to wall, and then my poor Sooners, held their own until the fourth quarter and I'm sure Texas cheated because they ultimately won, 45-35. Oh well, we have walked out of that game MANY times the winner, and the Texas fans were not obnoxious (most of them). I'd like to comment on some of the clothing, specifically the 'gurls' from UT. Too many cowboy boots with shorts and short dresses, which most of yall are saying 'eeeww' and some of them did look cute, kind of Britney goes Country....HOWEVER, to the ones that looked in the mirror and had second thoughts, go with that gut feeling, ok??? I'm just sayin.....

Every year, the food concessions try to out do the last, kind of the like the next Las Vegas hotel being built has to be the best, and those fair people will fry anything. This year, the big thing was Chicken Fried Bacon, which M2 and I were going to try, but the line was too long each time we went by. We did, however, score a deep fried Snickers, which I thought was gross and M2 loved every bite. By the end of the day, starting with Corney Dogs, we had Kettle Corn, Chicken strips, nachos, pickles, pizza, and hell, I can't remember the rest. We skipped the Fried Lattes, Fried Jelly Beans, Fried Pop Rocks (WTF?) and Fried paper plates. (Not really, thats probably next year.....)

Then I dropped M2 off at her dads to spend the night, and about 8:30 that night she called me as she always does. And tells me she has a stomach ache. REALLY. You think? This is the only time I have truly believed the 'stomach ache' and when I ran down the list from above, she said 'don't remind me...I'm going to throw up.....

Now that is a big day, I tell ya.... better luck next year to my SOONERS.

love this song, kinda fits..

http://www.pwu1980.com/verve

LYG-Bj

i have a strange fascination with Kid Rock....

- and I am totally hooked on Vicks Vaporub

- I have to touch the outside of an airplane as I board

-I can't even make tomato soup for M2 I despise it so much

- if anyone writes on my grocery list, I have to start it all over with a new one.

-I cant' stand sushi, and no, don't tell me that you need to order it for me or take me to a 'good' sushi place. Don't like it, never will.....

-I would love to fly a plane

-I won't buy bologna or hamburger helper

-I like the smell of rosemary but I hate the taste

-I like fall the best until spring comes around

-I won't wear the clothes or outfits ever again if something bad happens when i'm wearing it

- I'm a textbook Pisces personality

-I hate overhead lighting

-my last meal would be lobster and a caprese salad

-keep Starbucks, gimme Folgers

-I'm about to paint my bathroom orange (because I can)

-tend to drink a little Chardonnay on occasion (what day is it)

-never intended to own a sled team but love them all, most days, all at once.

- My next dog will be a Chow

-have a very close relationship with my mom and sisters

-don't understand people who don't stay in touch with their family

-born and raised in Oklahoma

-have an interior design degree

-raised and showed cattle in High School (FFA Sweetheart! -who knew)

-great job, greater boss

-different friends, in all kinds of groups, soccer moms, the chicks, old school friends, neighborhood friends, work friends, my blog chicks

-favorite city is San Francisco but I haven't been to NYC YET!!

-If I run away, I'll be a bartender at Coconuts in Cozumel. First drink's on the house.....

one of my favorites

http://www.jays.us/music/palms

BOOMER SOONER BABY, WE ARE 7-0 AND PLAY TEXAS SATURDAY IN THE COTTON BOWL!!!!

still not grabbing my crotch,

Bj

Let me say this about that........

I think I really like that saying, even though I worked for a woman that said it about thirty times a day (agghhh!) and as she walked away almost everytime, I thought 'you are a lunatic in very nice clothes'-

I sure wish the election was next Tuesday....if I hear anymore doom and gloom and interest rates and stock market and downturn and blahblahblah, I'm going to throw up. Am I naive to think that once the election is over, this Perfect Storm we are riding will calm down a little and George Clooney will live to see Glouchester???? Or at least Bermuda?And take me with him? Cause that model he dates is too high maintenance? And he loves my accent? And older women? Oops, sorry went to a different place for a minute. But, seriously, when Obama is elected and Sarah goes back to Alaska to keep an eye on Russia for us from her yard, I can't imagine this continuing to spiral down the drain. Comments please, I don't want to turn around and everyone has left me standing here with my "I have a dream" speech in my hand......

A note from Mrs. Robinson- Gorgeous Ice Maker fixer came over and fixed my icemaker (kuku cachoo) and I was really making iced tea while he was here and I asked him if he wanted some and he said yes and I felt like I was in a movie!!!!! It was kind of weird, and I probably had this look on my face like, I SO DID NOT just ask you if you wanted some tea- I felt like somebody was going to yell "CUT" and make me unbutton a button on my shirt, if ya know what I mean. I laughed TO MYSELF after he left and looked around for other broken appliances.....

A note from My College Football Oklahoma Sooner Fan-atic alter ego-this weekend is always too much fun, its Oklahoma vs Texas in Dallas and is played at the Cotton Bowl in the State Fair of Texas stadium. Friday night kicks off the mayhem, and Saturday at the Fair before the game is obnoxious and crowded and red vs orange and I can't wait.....

I would grab my crotch if I did things like that.........

The lowdown for Larry, Mary, Pete and Charlie the dog is on its way. I think there is a sailboat, sand, and a CIA agent involved, but thats the only bone Super D has thrown me....really.

So let me say this about that...the sun is coming out after much needed rain, I am thankful for alot of different things right now, and as always for you nut jobs that read this. Takes one to know one.....

LYG-Bj

one more thing- here is a shout out to the Smith Barney team- are you guys still reading this CF? say hello in the comments, and I'll come up with some random dirt about your boss....:)

Gettin the hell out of Dodge, wherever that is....

I'm going to tell you a story that is very true, and I'm so changing the names of everyone, not that anyone is remotely close to me to see this blog, just CYA....ya know?

Once there was a guy named Pete that was married but came home one day to a note on the door that said, don't come in, call 911. Yeah, his wife of X-many years had done the deal, and fast forward to Pete now getting into some therapy groups, online groups etc. Along comes Mary, who is an interested observer of these online chat groups helping people recover from loss. She is married to Larry a nd miserable, is his second wife, and also second to his full grown kids that keep their hands out for Dad to give them something, mostly cash. Mary has felt second best for a very long time, but has kept it to herself. She keeps seeing Pete in the chat room, and finally is brave enough to start a conversation up with him. The online attraction is almost immediate, and Mary feels such a connection to Pete that she has longed for for years. Fast forward, Pete is in love with Mary and vice versa now, and Mary starts to plan her escape. Each week, she packs two or three boxes of her most cherished possessions and ships them to Pete, seven states away. This goes on for almost four months, as Mary carefully rearranges things around the house just slightly, and Larry never notices anything moved, let alone missing. She also takes out the photographs around the house from their frames, and gets copies made and puts the copies back into the frames before Larry gets home that day. Mary only tells two people that she is closest to what she is doing (one is Super D) and finally departure day is one day away.

Mary goes to the bank, and takes out exactly half of the cash in all of the accounts. She writes Larry a long letter about how she has tried to make this work for years, and he has ignored her requests and for that matter, her. Larry goes to work the next day, Mary leaves the letter, the business card of the attorney she has filed paperwork with, puts the last suitcase in the car, and then she sees the dog. Suddenly she realizes that Larry will miss that dog more than her probably, so she decides Charlie the dog is going with her. Charlie, however, has never been in a car, only the back of a ranch pickup, so Mary opens the back door, throws in a piece of steak, Charlie gets in, Mary slams the door, jumps in, and heads to the airport where Pete is waiting to drive back to his home, seven states away, to start a new life with Mary. She sees Pete standing on the sidewalk, and her heart jumps out of her chest. She stops and gets out and Pete gives her a kiss that brings her to her knees, and she now knows that this is right and good and the beginning of her second life...

Deja Vous All Over Again......

I had to write today about the rituals of celebrating the annual recurrences of an event that took place previously sometime in our life.

Whew. That was a mouthful. But today is one of those for me, and its funny when you think about it, because these annual recurrences can go either way, in a good, happy thing we want to remember and celebrate for the rest of our lives, or a not so good thing we remember and wish we didn't have to for whatever reason, and then the ones that leave us with a quiet sense that no one else may know, and we just would like tomorrow to come quickly, thank you. I believe I'm dealing with the latter today, and although I can't fast forward to tomorrow, I was really trying to ignore it and it just become another day. BUT, some anniversaries of things lead to others, and that is what this one did for me, 11 1/2 years ago. M2 is in my life because of an event 15 years ago today, and that is how I'm going to celebrate today, that there is a reason for almost everything and I will celebrate exactly where I am because this is where I want to be, was meant to be, with exactly the people I have around me.

LYG-

Bj

ps hope you can open a good song from brother Van...

http://users.megapathdsl.net/~nightshade/SomeoneLikeYou

Put a Quarter in right here_____________

What's that? You need more music from me??? Well, thanks, I'll do that for you, and this may be one you've never heard- I found it very accidentally, but now will look for more .....

Please dance , alone or with others, while acting semi appropriate.

Or not.

http://www.donnakat.com/songs/HowdYouLearnToShakeItLikeThat

and since I am always up for a free handbag, check out http://www.handbagplanet.com/- I'll loan it to you if I win

Not Techno Enough to be Scary.....but I'm workin on it

First, about this photo. I chose it because it is titled Einstein in Womens Sandals. And how bout that hair. I can't love this picture anymore than I do.

moving on-Ok, I had too much time on my hands this weekend and messed around with this blogpage, and as you can tell, I've added some of my VBFF's to my page. So then I get a note from Le, 3rd on the right, about putting on music too (I know, I know, quit shaking your head) so I go to a very cool website called playlist.com and create a playlist to bring ovah....Found some GREAT music, you all would love it. If I could do it. The gadget button apparently doesn't like playlist.com, says its broken, its not good enough, come back next year, bring money, we don't just download anybody on this site. Then I go to the Help page. Holy Mother of God, I process with a creative brain, not the least bit technical (is that left or right?) and I almost had to lay down and sleep after glancing at all you have to do. So you know what? No music, yet, until some computer whiz steals my laptop and loads it and then gives it back. Le's website looks great, I told her it was fabulous like a new pair of FM pumps- AND IT HAS MUSIC!!!! The day you see the little jukebox on the right on mine, I will be a happy girl.

The Smartini girls are going to do the list of 'getting to know you' and I love those because I get so sarcastic by the end, I think I'm secretly trying to never get another one sent to me. Their's should be good. The ones I get aren't too original sometimes,...do you seriously want to know the last thing I ate? I don't even want to know. Are you asking about my favorite adult beverage because you are about to bring me one? And what would I be doing right now if I could be anywhere? I'm going to puke if I see 'be with my family and friends' because thats all nice and kum-baya, but I'll be in First Class on a plane to Paris, thats what. I'll send you a pic from the Eiffel Tower, baby. See? Its happening. The sarcasm. And I'm not even doing one. I can't help it. Told ya.

Speaking of Paris, this is one song that is on that elusive playlist of mine: http://music.aol.com/artist/keb-mo/144168/songs . When you get there and have to choose one of the songs, its called France. And it makes me want to dance. In France. With someone named Lance. In my underpants.

Boomer Sooner Baby we are 4-0

LYG

Bj

Cheap Housekeeper Please Apply.....

written earlier, as you can tell.....

Well, having one of many to come Sat nights w/o M2, and she just called, like she always does, and says her stomach hurts and wants to come home. Then the ranch hand gets on the phone and says something male and I told them both, NO, your stomach can hurt over there as easy as it can here. Mean Mom, Mean Mom, somebody dial CPS for me so I can turn myself in. WHATEVER!!!! And boy they are missing out on a par-tay of me having a glass of wine and watching college football. The sled team is passed out in assorted positions around the LVRoom, and I'm sure there is papparazzi outside just waiting for a glimpse inside the blinds to capture the excitement.

Did I say WHATEVER!!! -?

Of course I really enjoy a little time to myself, to read everyones blogs, read my books that I can't seem to finish, and look around and decide once again, I really need to hire a housekeeper. I actually fantasize about this one, her name is Consuela and she comes to my home everyday. When she is finished ironing all of the laundry, including pillowcases without starch, she will then clean out my closets because before she came to work for me, she was, after all, a professional organizer in her home country. And a professional chef. And a winemaker of fine chardonnays. And she is teaching M2 fluent Spanish in the afternoons, while she preps for our gourmet Monday night dinner. Take a break C, I can light the candles...

Outside, her husband, Jesus, (I love that name-imagine naming your baby Jesus- no pressure on that kid) is a landscaping guru, trimming the sidewalks with a pair of scissors. He doesn't actually work for me, he just loves gardening SO MUCH that he sees a true opportunity at my house to fine tune his skills while he waits to pick up his lady.....

Then the phone rings again, the stomach still hurts, I say eat some Tums and go to bed, and back to reality in Texas with me and the sled team hanging out on a Saturday night.....

living the dream, I tell ya.

and I wouldn't change a thing-

lyg

Bj

The Basset Hound Shuffle starring Owen Biafranca

Last weekend, we as in M2 and myself and Owen, the Basset on the sled team, packed up and drove to the other side of BFE (DFW) to attend a fundraiser for the North Texas Basset Hound Rescue Group. These are the people that I first contacted when I found him, and then two days later said, sorry, don't need to find him a home, he found one here on my loveseat. They say people do that all the time so they call it a 'non-rescue' .

Anyway, not knowing what to expect, we get there and if you can imagine approx 300 Basset Hounds in a park, all shapes and sizes and colors, wandering around with their owners, it was a complete riot. We had told Owen all week that we were taking him to see his people, and I don't think he was as impressed with the fact that they all looked like him, but he WAS impressed that they were all located at a convenient height for sniffing each other, if you know what I mean. They had a howling contest, a weenie toss contest, a raffle, and then ALL 300 marched around the path in the park. (The only downside to the day was that some people DID resemble their pet, and its not a good thing to look like a Basset Hound. )

heres a link to a video- www.dallasmorningnews.com/video

go there, and then you will see a video from the howling contest.

We didn't enter, Owen was in overload at that point and we will have to start practicing for next year. He was, however, the most handsome, cute, adorable guy at the whole place, if I do say so myself. Thats him in the photo, see for yourself........

WINNER WINNER, chicken dinner....

To all entrants, send me your address(es) at bjries@verizon.net and you will be receiving fabulous trips and prizes in the mail very soon. If you played, you won........even Soul Moxie to lift her spirits more than AquaNet.

I love my own contest.

and my new BFF's out there wherever you all are.....

Doesn't rhyme with Nantucket

I told a friend of mine that I was going to write a limerick titled:

"There once was a guy from Ohio............

and then let my commenters write the rest. I have a good one to throw in there too, but I'll see the entries before I post mine. There will be a prize, which is also TBA.

Kind of like shouting " I won! I won! What did I win?"

come on gurls, I saw the pirate story, this should be easy!

Seriously....

Now I feel bad about the post saying people should have gotten out of the Gulf area, and I'm changing my thought process (MY FIRST RETRACTION!) I don't know if people reading this, thousands I'm sure, are out of the state of Texas (I DO have a friend in Austrailia, thank you very much) but hey, there is so much devistation that we are seeing on our local news about Galveston and Houston, and even my company's Houston office is damaged and won't reopen this week. I now have seen a story about two kids, 10 and 12, that got a marker and wrote their names and SSN's on their arms, and I felt like shit. Not funny, this is people's lives, and I was with someone today that has evacuated to Dallas and she was in a closet for 4 hours with her mentally handicapped child. Lets all keep these people in our thoughts and prayers, and send the Red Cross some $$ is you can.

LYG-

Bj

I can see clearly now.......

Ok, we need some new 'survivor' stories on CNN. I have heard the same people say 'we should have gotten out of here' and HELLO! You had three days notice that Ike could be a Cat 4 by the time it rang your doorbell!!! I'm not taking it lightly and there are alot of people stranded and needing help, but come on, you live on a barrier island and the storm is headed straight for you? Umm, let me think. I KNOW! Pack the car, the kids, the dogs, the wine, the ATM card and get out. 3 Million people don't have power and it may take two weeks to get restored. Bad Juju.... And I don't mean to piss anybody off by saying this, but if you've ever been to Galveston, it could use a good cleaning (that beach is dark brown from oil in the Gulf) Kind of like Bourbon Street needs a thunderstorm of Clorox to fall on it after Mardi Gras... One weird thing is that the people that were calling 911 during the storm were being told to write their name and SSN on their arms- now that is a warm and fuzzy feeling, don't cha know.....Lorrie, if we come to NY and stay at your house, is that also a requirement?? Just putting my ducks in a row...And oh yes, one day, Sheila, Racie and I are going to be at your door with wine and rainbow wigs for everyone!!! We'll let you know we're coming when we call you from downstairs...

On a college football note, My Sooners are rolling on down the road, 3-0 and the season looks bright if we can keep the QB uninjured (no TX Tech nightmare like last year) Megan, your Bulldogs pulled it out right before they got their you know whats kicked- I think the coach told them they were all going back to prison if they didn't win, so it must have worked!!! Kidding! I know they are all on parole..... And I don't think my Ohio State Buckeye friend reads this but boo hoo about your 35-3 loss to USC. I predict the Sooners and USC or Georgia in the BCS game...The Chicks and the Smartini Girls could gather !!! Woo hoo!

That one we would need to at least write our phone numbers on our arms!!!

Now back to reality and a science project and groceries and drying out from 4 inches of rain yesterday. But all week we have sun and 80 degree days, so come on down.....

(adding this note after first post: Houston and the entire coastal area is in bad shape, and my heart really goes out to everyone down there. I have had messages and texts from several friends down there and they said it was horrific to go through- 4 hours of 90 to 100 mph wind, rain and much damage. Keep them in your thoughts....)

LYG-

Bj