Good Monday to you all....

I've been waiting for rain all day, and it hasn't come!  How disappointing.  We actually had some nearby wildfires last night, which were due, in part, to the lack of precipitation.  Parts of I-95 were closed for a few hours. It's been very warm here and muggy today....a balmy 77, which is weird even for this part of Florida.  It will be back down in the high 50's to mid 60's for the rest of the week. Not much happening today. I did laundry, cleaned the house, organized youngest dd's drawers....you know, the usual fun stuff. The oldest stayed home today, as she was sick. I couldn't get her into the doc till tomorrow at 6 pm, and the youngest brought home a note from school, saying that the flu is running rampant in the schools, and gave a list of symptoms to look out for, before sending the kids to school.  Yeah, like I'm going to send my hacking, fevered child to school to share with others. Sheesh!  Well, I had better go close my windows since the flu is going around....yeah, a friend of mine is down with it, she opened the window and IN-FLU-ENZA!  LOL....

Lazy Sunday afternoon....

Ok, what did I expect letting my daughter play in a basketball league with 60 boys and 4 girls?  Yesterday was her first game, and I must say she did really well.  She got in there and ran, jumped, and was basically ignored.  However, at one point there was no one open, so one of the boys threw her the ball, and she made an awesome shot....nothing but net!  The coach from the other team yelled out, "WHO is guarding the GIRL?"  It was great.  The coach and assistant coach were on the sidline, and when the ball went in they both yelled, "All right!"  I could tell from that point on, she got her confidence and played hard.  Of course, it wasn't two minutes later that she was slammed from the back and went down.  She jumped right back up and went on for the rest of the game....however, when we got home she showed me her ankle, and it is about 2 times the size it normally is.  Sigh.  I went today after church and got her a bandage to wear, and she says it's helping. Today was a gorgeous day outside.  It was sunny and warm, around 73 so we decided to cook out. Steak and salad and baked beans and tomato/feta relish and ice cream for dessert.  I can't believe it's January! Back home we would be huddled under blankets in the house. Well, dd wants me to watch Funniest Home Videos, so I'm off for some quality time....

The scoop on the poop....

Okay, well, I went outside and scooped up the offending pile and looked to see that no one was watching.  Then I ran across the street and dumped it in the yard, right next to the driveway.  I guess I chickened out on actually placing it on the driveway. So, this morning I get up and what do I see????  The two big dogs have escaped the backyard and are in my front yard.  Sheesh!  The people weren't home, and I caught them before they were able to make a deposit....I just shooed them away and then went out to rake.  They didn't come back, and I didn't find anything. What is with people?  I would never let my dog do that.  And if he did go in someone's yard, I'd be over there cleaning it up. Anyway....I don't feel good today. I'm nervous and anxious and dizzy.  What's up with that?  I've had anxiety problems before, and I haven't felt like this in a long time. I should just go and lie down for a while. My dd's game is this afternoon, so I need to feel good within the hour. Have a lovely day everyone....it's 70 and sunny here....I hope everyone up north is keeping warm! 

Dogs in my yard....

Okay, I just looked out my front window, and there is that stupid dog out there, pooping in my yard!  And where is her owner?  Standing at her door watching!  Excuse me, but does my yard have a sign on it saying "Public Pooch Toilet?!" What is with these people? They have three dogs, 2 marmaduke dogs and a small black one.  They have a fenced back yard, so why do they let them out the front and shoo them toward my yard?  I've seen the guy do this....and when he saw that I had caught him, he stopped doing it during the day....but did it at night!  Now, my dh is a yard fanatic.  He keeps it manicured and beautiful.  These people cut their grass once every two weeks and it looks like crap.  (Isn't there always one house on the block that does that?) So, perhaps the dogs prefer a more picturesque place to "deposit" their "goods".  Well, I'm sorry, but this executive bathroom is closed.  I am going to go out there, scoop the poop, and place it strategically in their driveway.  I think they will get the hint.  I was going to open the door, and let my dog out to chase it away, but her little boy was outside....he has stayed home two days this week "just because".  He is home at least once a week because she oversleeps.  I asked him why he was home yesterday, and he said, "Oh, I wanted a day off." Hmmm.  Then he tells me he's bored, and all he has to do is help the repair man....he has a habit of talking to strange repair men in the neighborhood....no supervision whatsoever.  Did I mention he's in kindergarten and has been doing this since we moved in a year and a half ago?  Okay....I'm done ranting.  Enjoy your day everyone, I'm off to scoop!

What the?????

What is with the journal fonts?  I need a magnifying glass to read these things! 

Another lovely day....(*sarcasm alert*)

Well, it's the end of another day....big whoop.  Let's see, this morning my youngest didn't want to: get up, get dressed, get hair combed, and didn't study for her science test which is tomorrow and consists of a 4 page study guide.  After I get her on the bus, I come home and clean, then spend 2 hours on the internet, surfing and talking with my Mom and sister.  I then clean some more, get dressed and go to the high point of my day....the massage parlor!!!!  Ooohhhhh, ahhhhhh,  yeaaahhhh, that's the spot.  It was heavenly....and I fell asleep for a few minutes.  I've had a cold for 2 days so the warm, relaxing room really was nice.  I then ran to Hallmark for a ty card for my aunt for watching my dog.  I returned to the homestead and made homemade oatmeal rasin cookies and the parents stopped in for a visit.  My Dad is getting so bad.  It took us 5 minutes to walk across the familyroom to the bedroom so he could lay down.  I hate seeing him so frail and sick. Kids came home and I made a lovely dinner....waiting for dh to get home and praise my cooking/baking....but alas.  I hear something outside the door and when I open it, he is scraping his shoe on the mat and says, "I just F*&%^$% stepped in a pile of &*^*%$^ dog s&^%&!  I am going to F%^*#$@ kick that guy's A$$, if he lets his F&%^$#@ dogs in our yard again!"  Well, good evening to you too, honey.  So that is where it stands now.  He ate dinner and grumbled about work, and basically made the evening suck.  I know he's been working a lot of hours, and he's the only one who seems to care about the business....I know he's frustrated.  But why take it out on me?  Because I'm here. Oh well....tomorrow is another day.

I figured it out!!!!

As you may have noticed, I finally figured out how to put a picture on my "about me" section. (thanks to redhdka!) However, the pic is too wide, so I will need to get another one.  I tried to adjust it but I ended up looking like a.) a conehead or b.) a basketball with eyes....so I just left it as-is.  My dd will be proud that I figured it out without her sitting here giving me directions.  *sigh* "Mother, I said RIGHT click, not left click...."  Speaking of my darling daughter....I am mighty proud of her.  We went to the basketball practice last night, and it turned out that she was the only girl on a team of rather large boys. (9th-12th grade co-ed church team) And being that we are new to the church, she didn't know any of them. About half way through the practice, I could see that she was not happy.  I'll tell you, if it had been me at that age, I would have turned around and walked out!  I have to say, the coach and assistant coach were both really nice; they came over and talked to me, saying that they understood how she felt, and would help her to fit in. Apparently, each team has between 1 and 3 girls, so she will be guarding a girl when they play their games.  During a break I went onto the court to talk to her.  I told her how proud I was of her for sticking it out and that she was doing very well.  I said to just get in there and play like she would on the girls team....show those boys what she was made of.  I also told  her that I would stand behind whatever decision she made; sticking with the team, or deciding not to continue.  She went back out there and played well....making a 3 pointer or two!  After the practice she told me that she wanted to stick with it.  She said once the nervousness wore off, she realized that she would learn to be more agressive playing with the guys.  I was so proud of her for not giving up.  I would like to think that it was my loving and uplifting parental pep talk that helped in her decision making.....however, it was probably the hottie that stopped her as we were leaving and said, "It was really nice meeting you Betsy", that did it.