tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10093280015758042902023-11-15T23:49:14.975-08:00Eww, What's On My Shoe?there's a lot of stories out there... this one is mine.denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-34033324355633760362019-04-26T15:19:00.001-07:002019-04-26T15:33:35.900-07:00The Sad Tale of a Would-Be Good Samaritan & Things That Are Dead<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">*** This is a true story. Names and places have been changed to protect the innocent ***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Wait. Change that. There were only three characters in this story: one is dead and the other barely spoke English. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I'm probably safe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago I was on my way to work when I saw something odd ahead of me on the road. There was a little old man standing in the center of a rather busy street next to a small, blanket-covered object. There are five lanes total on Mollison Avenue - two east, two west, and a center turn lane. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I got closer, I saw the man holding what appeared to be a cup of coffee and he just kept looking down at the blanket. And I thought, "Oh crap. Somebody's dog's been hit and no one is even stopping." Cars were just whizzing by, and this little old man is standing there alone. I felt bad.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do realize that rarely do bereaved people enjoy a cup of coffee while gazing at their deceased pet, but somehow that didn't occur to me before I pulled into the center lane. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I got closer I noticed a large puddle of fluid on the asphalt and thought, "Ugh. It's going to be messy." I had just noticed a funny-looking tail, and then I heard myself say, "Do you need some help?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes," the man said, gesturing at the blanket. "Coffee." I didn't quite understand what he wanted me to do, but I did lift the blanket and this is what I saw:</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">*It was an actual dead raccoon. This butter rendition is simply</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">less graphic. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Coffee," the man said. "He needs coffee. Then I put in car and take to vet." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "I don't think coffee will help. But I will put it in the car for you. Let's get him out of the street first." I grabbed the raccoon's little paw and carried him to the curb. He was stiff as a board. "I don't think he's alive, sir. I'm sorry."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "No. Coffee, and then you take to the vet." He pours more coffee on the dead raccoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Me? I'm not putting him in my car!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "Not blood on him. It's coffee. Put in your car."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> "I'm not putting a dead raccoon in my car."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Right about then I see three police cars heading our way...</span></div>
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<br />denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-68060867582747581222018-01-01T19:49:00.000-08:002018-01-01T19:49:38.011-08:00And then much to her surprise it was 2018<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="2cuf0" data-offset-key="e7tiv-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">
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<span data-offset-key="e7tiv-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">So long, 2017! You were a great year, but I think it's time to move on. But before you go, I'd like to say a few things: </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="e7tiv-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Thanks for keeping my family (and me) safe, healthy, and (mostly) happy. </span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="e7tiv-0-0" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">T</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">hank you for the acceptance and support of my fiends...as well as my friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">T</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">hank you for everything I wake up and take for granted every morning.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(and thank you for crazy, serendipitous surprises like this - running into Fred and Gwen in Anchorage in June. What were the chances? and were they Fiends? or Friends?)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">and I promise I won't be gone so long this time.... and I'll also work on formatting...</span></div>
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denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-56331687063638853672013-03-31T20:17:00.002-07:002013-03-31T20:17:51.478-07:00Thirty-Six Things<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of my charming son's 36th birthday<strike> today</strike> ... <strike>yesterday </strike> ...err, earlier this month, I present "Thirty-six Things You didn't Know About Larry" (umm, Part 1)</div>
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1. He wore cowboy boots until he was three. Without socks. Because they tickled.</div>
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2. He jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. (Some people think of a bucket list as something to do before they die; some people consider it something to do while trying to die.)</div>
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3. He is a good man with animals. He rescued Petunia the Rabbit and kept her for eight years. She now rests in a place of honor in our yard. Larry took in Lucy after his dad could no longer keep her.<br />
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4. He is a good sport.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ziplining in the Beckers' backyard</td></tr>
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5. He keeps a bucket of water on his back porch which he pours over his head every morning. I don't understand this, and neither does Lucy.</div>
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6. He spent a semester in Sweden studying for his master's degree in political science.</div>
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7. He has a masters degree in Political Science.</div>
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8. He is a man of many talents.</div>
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9. On first first day of preschool with Miss Nancy at Building Blocks in Somer's Point, NJ, when he was told to go use the boys' room; he took off his boot, pee'd in his sock, then returned the sock to the teacher. (This may or may not be related to item #1)</div>
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10. He was once trapped in a locked bedroom with no way out. Around 2 a.m. we heard a terrible crashing sound coming from the guest room (my in laws were staying in Larry's room.) Allan ran to the room and saw that Larry had pulled out the the top hinges on the bedroom door. </div>
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Larry may have looked a little like this --</div>
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and gasped, "I can't get out of the room!!! I have to pee and there's no door handle! I'm trapped!!"<br />
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Allan issued a few profanities along the lines of "You dumbsh*t. The doorknob is on the other side of the door" and proceeded to tear the rest of the door off its hinges so Larry could escape.<br />
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This is a true and factual story, although there may or may not have been some alcohol consumption involved.<br />
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*****to be continued*****denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-80475893019980859142013-02-11T16:06:00.001-08:002013-02-11T17:54:38.332-08:00An in Depth Study of Nature vs Nurture: Which plays a bigger role in the development of a child's personality -- genetics or environment?Well, I'm clearly not a scientist and this is a blog, not a thesis...<br />
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Back in my youth (which was very long ago), I had a need for a resume. I'd only worked a couple of jobs and didn't have much to actually put on a resume; if nothing else, but I am creative.<br />
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This time period was pre-computer age, so there were no fancy computers or software to brag about on a resume. So it was fairly common to list your typing speed and any office machines you could operate. I put down the Bostitch M-89 100 Series and the Swingline Model 29886 as machines I had " great competency" in operating. They are -- respectively -- a stapler and an electric pencil sharpener.<br />
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Apparently I've a smart ass a long time. So are both of my lovely children. Nature or nurture? Both my babies were doomed from the start.denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-81348075374531757312012-04-14T21:06:00.000-07:002012-04-14T21:06:09.029-07:00The "C" WordThis is a very short post. We all know that cancer is not good. And chemo, if not worse, adds insult to injury. Not only did I lose a breast (actually no biggie), but I lost all of my hair, all of my fingernails, and one toenail (don't ask. I don't know why just one). And in the last four-and-a-half years, my hair has grown back (my breast has not); my fingernails have more or less grown back (the toenail has not); and my eyelashes and eyebrows have never recovered.<br />
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So, in a fit of vanity, I decided to have my (nonexistent) eyebrows tattooed on. I found a great place and a fabulous esthetician and had it done. I was very nervous, but Lisa soothed my fears and told me that while my eyebrows would appear extremely dark for the first week or so, they would soon fade into a very natural look. Through her wizardy, I think Lisa's captured the "real me" --- agreed?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vsOSx5Embc9_3e8Ogy5MCmn5tIlH62oKANKZ9A1TQ9LpMJml2IZHEQUzJFm9-JicokqqP9T6i6UYmBDfruO1wDGlsuJBb7GXzlesoVDvQdR09HnuoZphBYEfx6ZkDz8kxbfCN6QvCcA/s1600/Picture0025+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vsOSx5Embc9_3e8Ogy5MCmn5tIlH62oKANKZ9A1TQ9LpMJml2IZHEQUzJFm9-JicokqqP9T6i6UYmBDfruO1wDGlsuJBb7GXzlesoVDvQdR09HnuoZphBYEfx6ZkDz8kxbfCN6QvCcA/s1600/Picture0025+(2).jpg" /></a></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-89096153780774343482012-03-26T13:29:00.004-07:002012-03-26T13:29:45.787-07:00Proof That Women are More Evolved than Men!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is Alice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She is a border collie and</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">she is very smart.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYokdUpH5B-AGD8jZ_z-tzJZPypWVqmc2IRLW8J0yF2fmcO7l9x4Takd-v90bmw4sUcrrxMCwIk9POyyvXKFZp9bJT9LrXBhysA04hwT7WIGvCAfoLrKreb6CzTbkZGSZw90NzWPThnqE/s1600/DSC_0155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYokdUpH5B-AGD8jZ_z-tzJZPypWVqmc2IRLW8J0yF2fmcO7l9x4Takd-v90bmw4sUcrrxMCwIk9POyyvXKFZp9bJT9LrXBhysA04hwT7WIGvCAfoLrKreb6CzTbkZGSZw90NzWPThnqE/s320/DSC_0155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is my husband.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He is a man.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He is very smart, too.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fY6lf95ZLBjz8ckJUsu_1ZTqr4xF8TX3IQRMwulXHIv5W2jzATCBXMnLTF2NXnt6LC3uwRrMT28HjzE3KcOVUYE0MQoaew86Ly2WU04HcNA_4zkU9GFD9LqpZvVYDnpLDoWA-EivWmo/s1600/allan+bucket+hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fY6lf95ZLBjz8ckJUsu_1ZTqr4xF8TX3IQRMwulXHIv5W2jzATCBXMnLTF2NXnt6LC3uwRrMT28HjzE3KcOVUYE0MQoaew86Ly2WU04HcNA_4zkU9GFD9LqpZvVYDnpLDoWA-EivWmo/s320/allan+bucket+hat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alice loves to play outside in the water.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She gets very muddy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ_C-SEs8zsJtcYlkWIK7FJrob6LKB9kR8TIWO4-wpvQDZw2fvEGUbc6MvvlAabrRRNYKQaPpagnIv_6xWgFMRDRPJlpK2pcOkV3170TInH4ICXw90fxZX6g3r4a5QWCuLIYZIKnK14o/s1600/mud+puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZ_C-SEs8zsJtcYlkWIK7FJrob6LKB9kR8TIWO4-wpvQDZw2fvEGUbc6MvvlAabrRRNYKQaPpagnIv_6xWgFMRDRPJlpK2pcOkV3170TInH4ICXw90fxZX6g3r4a5QWCuLIYZIKnK14o/s320/mud+puppy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Alice likes to play in water inside too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJnC1vv5U_Q6fdUOwWoO3q9HHt8NIzvn06h2akZtRzWa2dSkScWg5pNeURRnnjEkJ11jUweRpTOV3znUdHnlQ8Er5gS6zB8D8l88GaXMbINYZwiNvIB9fYHbXb5Q_BJP0MN5Fh2ERFx4/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJnC1vv5U_Q6fdUOwWoO3q9HHt8NIzvn06h2akZtRzWa2dSkScWg5pNeURRnnjEkJ11jUweRpTOV3znUdHnlQ8Er5gS6zB8D8l88GaXMbINYZwiNvIB9fYHbXb5Q_BJP0MN5Fh2ERFx4/s320/DSC_0168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She digs in her water dish</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">in the kitchen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiIbn8BNKjoeWccrn06ZtseBR-2cCSbjRfS2fauXOvPhXBoHWhyphenhyphencpwznNETpt5YTlWa4yL_taNfuraAzOVzlz1L2YpRnNtY204l59NMV0fqjIybnea0j9uRM7yrRMpmdAqGTfpHHCM9w/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiIbn8BNKjoeWccrn06ZtseBR-2cCSbjRfS2fauXOvPhXBoHWhyphenhyphencpwznNETpt5YTlWa4yL_taNfuraAzOVzlz1L2YpRnNtY204l59NMV0fqjIybnea0j9uRM7yrRMpmdAqGTfpHHCM9w/s320/DSC_0169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">But one day, Alice found a fabulous source of </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">water in the bathroom!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwLDmUbZQFpXTejHHVXNiHDoD7fiunC30pre1ocSlM0Dgo73h7X8NWFEpaT77z2TBE0K9nfnaCI50niEF3vh9-yg4rqsev8R3Ekoey8BHFqFU7aDp4ahnr7tXy4vG2iYAzKVgD9eI-0c/s1600/DSC_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwLDmUbZQFpXTejHHVXNiHDoD7fiunC30pre1ocSlM0Dgo73h7X8NWFEpaT77z2TBE0K9nfnaCI50niEF3vh9-yg4rqsev8R3Ekoey8BHFqFU7aDp4ahnr7tXy4vG2iYAzKVgD9eI-0c/s320/DSC_0407.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And she dug and she dug and she dug!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Water went everywhere.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SrO0yQ8gpVPP8J_Ncu4kFxQyl9qu4AgpGV4ii3DE5r3Ei2iRGQQ5lGmUoipuSZd92ruS68yUjzLctpC6mjOaZyhbk5wSuxTTJsX_eyMofqmNJu4Jz_CIv8urqH0e7YM7gPLmQi722Vw/s1600/DSC_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SrO0yQ8gpVPP8J_Ncu4kFxQyl9qu4AgpGV4ii3DE5r3Ei2iRGQQ5lGmUoipuSZd92ruS68yUjzLctpC6mjOaZyhbk5wSuxTTJsX_eyMofqmNJu4Jz_CIv8urqH0e7YM7gPLmQi722Vw/s320/DSC_0408.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was not an Approved Alice Activity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Later that night, the following conversation occurred:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I found Alice digging in the toilet tonight," said husband.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Mmm, yes, she did that earlier too."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I told her to quit three or four times and she wouldn't. I finally had to close the bathroom door."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Really, Dear?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">as I turned the next page in my book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I just put the lid down"</span></div>
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<br /></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-10696503357919428432012-02-29T02:59:00.000-08:002012-02-29T02:59:00.927-08:00Report From a Parsienne Bathroom (Le Toilette)<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allo^ from Paris, where I sit in "le toilette" to type because
it's the only place to charge my laptop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a very nice bathroom, so all is good.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I joined the husband on Friday morning for a whirlwind trip after he
finished some business here earlier in the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a long flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was up at 4 a.m. to make it to our airport
for a 6:20 flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Hooray </span> for Trish who
volunteered to give me a ride. Well, she didn't fuss and was quite cheery, so that is practically volunteering in my book. Besides it the most time we've had together to chat in a year or two...</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here I am in the Philadelphia Airport ready to board a 6 p.m. flight for
Paris arriving 7:30 the next morning<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--
this is my tired face.....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TVsqusMbU9cukbZems5_vSttOLyEociWY97vRBkPNURHykrZOmHO_OaFxTwzmolo2Btj1sQKwAhxPXSFuRtTmHJWdKedKZEtL1lYoGEH_vgR9kCP5RPKP17Wirjc5yQ6pBayi0efmy8/s1600/Picture0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TVsqusMbU9cukbZems5_vSttOLyEociWY97vRBkPNURHykrZOmHO_OaFxTwzmolo2Btj1sQKwAhxPXSFuRtTmHJWdKedKZEtL1lYoGEH_vgR9kCP5RPKP17Wirjc5yQ6pBayi0efmy8/s320/Picture0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and here I am this
morning....<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32PmjPkGijY-2-t_eoOLI2FJiXmWgnx4UKkrlDlU1cUzWKyOBqsDXe3qUznu1rZKaBs9zK6ivD61zxOHyELPFv1lFNesJTg-J1K3YMlfG4GTqVSvu5C_f3Xo_y9hPWpY_ba5zyq4x-rA/s1600/Picture0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32PmjPkGijY-2-t_eoOLI2FJiXmWgnx4UKkrlDlU1cUzWKyOBqsDXe3qUznu1rZKaBs9zK6ivD61zxOHyELPFv1lFNesJTg-J1K3YMlfG4GTqVSvu5C_f3Xo_y9hPWpY_ba5zyq4x-rA/s320/Picture0017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am feeling very French with my scarf and in front of the sign that tells
me not to smoke in French.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oui, oui!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have hit as many of the museums as possible in our short time, and tomorrow
we are taking the train to Normandy for some sort of tour that my hubs has
heard is very good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So today was the day
to shop and experience Paris outside of the museums.... Here are some things
I've learned...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Paris is very expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd heard
that...BUT Sephora has the same Clinique makeup for 32,90 EU that I can buy in
San Diego for $21.95 (dislike)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They call a diet Coke "Coke Light" (like).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the Champs de Elysses, it sells for 6,90
EU (about $8.50) (dislike)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fabulous pizza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And crust to die for.... yummy...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(double like)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fabulous breakfasts here at the hotel (food, duh, LIKE)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lots of Parisians have dogs -- lots of terriers, too. Schnauzers, Jack
Russells, even a Scottie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(like)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">internet charge of $20/day (dislike)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Free WiFi at the Starbucks (yes, Starbucks, Vicki) around the corner.
(like)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And that's where I'm headed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Au revoir... and signing out from the
Trocadero neighborhood of Paris!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-25273110732423533872012-02-14T19:58:00.000-08:002012-02-14T19:58:53.038-08:00Most Happiest of Valentine's Day Wished Upon You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What do roses and dog poop have in common? Not much...unless it's Valentine's day and you find </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">this in your yard. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEelZwISPkuYSi6EAonwc-CFDM1eLJTb96InoPJUPWyTVOekNSLTIZtJ4kclbGFLV8GDmHB1H0FlVR44ushGGwnYCMbzdmpDnYA1e12IubJ7o1EjMoEe2aLqkSZ7SmaIachZ0EWbnC6LU/s1600/downsized_1122110925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEelZwISPkuYSi6EAonwc-CFDM1eLJTb96InoPJUPWyTVOekNSLTIZtJ4kclbGFLV8GDmHB1H0FlVR44ushGGwnYCMbzdmpDnYA1e12IubJ7o1EjMoEe2aLqkSZ7SmaIachZ0EWbnC6LU/s640/downsized_1122110925.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">*sigh* someone loves me!</span></div>
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<br />denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-916732405946193202012-02-13T11:28:00.000-08:002012-02-13T20:27:45.458-08:00Ponies on Parole, Part 2<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">***On last week's episode, Denise and family had been notified that their
three horses were loose and Animal Control had been called in to take care of
them****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4:40 a.m. </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were now driving around the neighborhood following the sheriff's vague
directions that the horses were just "up the street."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The husband was the only one dressed and in
a semblance of order (but he's sort of like that).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had jumped into sweatpants and my tall
rubber muck boots and threw a jacket over my knee-length lime green night shirt
emblazoned a cartoon weiner dog and the saying "I wanted to be around
you." <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8glEIoct8K-npi0t8Jq7svKbFe8RD_lr5htB8CEZNeiu0Or7Z99WWopjtCpNX5knmKo9yJoODOiJb7t1psWuM_xQN0xYJU1mpW_9NMHP3Lvdd3AO4hGq0kVUVqVC8K3iGL82dD2FMuxM/s1600/DSC_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8glEIoct8K-npi0t8Jq7svKbFe8RD_lr5htB8CEZNeiu0Or7Z99WWopjtCpNX5knmKo9yJoODOiJb7t1psWuM_xQN0xYJU1mpW_9NMHP3Lvdd3AO4hGq0kVUVqVC8K3iGL82dD2FMuxM/s200/DSC_0194.JPG" width="132" /></a></div>
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</o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></span></v:shapetype></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jess was lying on her stomach, with
her head between the two front seats (we'd not taken the time to fold up the
seats in the Expedition) barking orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It appeared as though we were taking orders from a disembodied head.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">4:55 a.m.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still
trying to determine just exactly where "up the street" is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Denise is becoming more hysterical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allan calls the sheriff dispatch for better
directions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">5:05</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> <strong>a.m.</strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spot a pile of horse poop
and just beyond that an animal control officer holding a big, brown horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dutchie!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I leap out of the truck, the woman says, “Thank goodness you are
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t get this one to load
in the trailer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other two are
already gone.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What?! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“When they come back, maybe you can help us load him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you not see the lime green tee shirt and the bed head?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I look like an animal control officer? This is my horse!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">5:10 a.m.</span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> We clear up the confusion and Dutchie is released into our custody. I’ve got
instructions to pick up the other two at the Animal Shelter and lead my one
remaining horse home with a dog’s leash around his neck.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(fast forward)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">2:00 p.m.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">My good friend, Teri, and I
are heading down to the shelter with the horse trailer to spring the
jailbirds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrive, the lobby is
packed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sign in and go looking for
the horses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly, Teri spots this:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We grab an employee walking by and tell him they are MY horses! They're going to adopt them out in two
days?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where are they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says they are in the back, BUT I have to
be able to ID them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Okay, but how?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Veterinarian reports, pictures, bill of
sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then takes us through all the
offices and into the back lot where the two miscreants are dozing in a pipe
corral.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As soon as I see them, I shout, “Oreo!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What happened?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who opened the
gate?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both ponies snap to attention and
come to the rail. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oreo whinnies and
flips her head, then curls her lip up in the flehmen response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The employee starts laughing and says, “Well,
that’s a positive ID if I’ve ever seen one!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to the lobby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wait some more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then a little longer…until ---<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4:30 p.m.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’re the only ones left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teri,
above, is calling home to tell them we are still here… then my name is called!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We run to the counter and after writing a
rather unpleasant check to bail them out, we head for home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember this picture?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one could figure out who might have owned
these horses?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-59853190887937997392012-01-16T13:04:00.000-08:002012-01-16T13:04:50.592-08:00Ponies on Parole<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me ask you: Look at this photo. Does this motley group look like a common group of criminals to you?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhOSiTULe38Sd6Bz3Ho8_oH-N2loYQ3Cht_HUIgarJUP4C-bXaKXGgmREKc4FEcslyTXdv5AwInngu_Yu5BOSigEQSO189_nC5UmAu-5HYfpCu5cS6wsgrgw3v4LcCXIK1oy-2FhZJ4E/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhOSiTULe38Sd6Bz3Ho8_oH-N2loYQ3Cht_HUIgarJUP4C-bXaKXGgmREKc4FEcslyTXdv5AwInngu_Yu5BOSigEQSO189_nC5UmAu-5HYfpCu5cS6wsgrgw3v4LcCXIK1oy-2FhZJ4E/s400/DSC_0108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Look again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Does this look like a wild horse who won't be caught?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">A horse who gallops wildly about the neighborhood</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">inciting mayhem amongst his fellow equines?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT00plqxVBd07GFc_fCV0HweHjgEAsfi__-gF-ZPSabC6F39opSZHeM8OxN_eG5O6DdEDazQJdgN5JOSD0nfkcu2DpOsCM1Xd_k7RlGoEnAv9SiZ85J9LSWp-iMF9XKY-QGXCeKxEk7E/s1600/DSC_0126.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT00plqxVBd07GFc_fCV0HweHjgEAsfi__-gF-ZPSabC6F39opSZHeM8OxN_eG5O6DdEDazQJdgN5JOSD0nfkcu2DpOsCM1Xd_k7RlGoEnAv9SiZ85J9LSWp-iMF9XKY-QGXCeKxEk7E/s400/DSC_0126.JPG" width="331" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And how about this one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Is this really the face of a common scofflaw?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;"> A pony who deserves to be incarcerated?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdTnJ7qV9VeekwDdYHdXoFvetQXDKYHtON2po38tsgv_Mo3APgTOzFj5AaQ3QXhr2OawuNyr0vNOLk11udZcjdpKasJbI3-9qQ0M-RkywoQdqk9OAz5SG_t2pQKgzkHRGfkXsNXxu18Q/s1600/DSC_0131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdTnJ7qV9VeekwDdYHdXoFvetQXDKYHtON2po38tsgv_Mo3APgTOzFj5AaQ3QXhr2OawuNyr0vNOLk11udZcjdpKasJbI3-9qQ0M-RkywoQdqk9OAz5SG_t2pQKgzkHRGfkXsNXxu18Q/s400/DSC_0131.JPG" width="316" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And finally, the alleged juvenile delinquent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Is this young equine truly guilty of breaking and exiting (the pasture)?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">Did he really poop in the middle of the road late one night?</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e50JyL8O_lMssVYf3WCSgt4jgW4g9da0Dn2skI4NHxOQgp34bd92b6mSM2eZ8eW2TlkEAnFpekjm8wDPErFjdjuZC2XC6W12JRiJsNALRkJlmbqgsXkDm7PT5crOFqjun6vS40zOEhs/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1e50JyL8O_lMssVYf3WCSgt4jgW4g9da0Dn2skI4NHxOQgp34bd92b6mSM2eZ8eW2TlkEAnFpekjm8wDPErFjdjuZC2XC6W12JRiJsNALRkJlmbqgsXkDm7PT5crOFqjun6vS40zOEhs/s400/DSC_0129.JPG" width="370" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, let me tell you a story...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">a story of equines gone wild.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;">First, take a look at my house. I live in a neighborhood. Granted, we all have at least an acre and a half, but it's still a neighborhood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Standing in the road, if you look down the street to the left </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">this is what you see:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcsfULNr3thIffgPyQD0u_zA5sygJxsIpDiD1IPit8TaznAyXL3y8YnkNsihmNdDoQJGJw8r1dO3b7A57d4JLT2IXZYfmrb8mWeLHRBY5pIxMlblHka396jlAMs7cSyu40E8eWc6eoTE/s1600/DSC_0119.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcsfULNr3thIffgPyQD0u_zA5sygJxsIpDiD1IPit8TaznAyXL3y8YnkNsihmNdDoQJGJw8r1dO3b7A57d4JLT2IXZYfmrb8mWeLHRBY5pIxMlblHka396jlAMs7cSyu40E8eWc6eoTE/s400/DSC_0119.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now if you look to the south, this is what you see:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuTe9MfcOxZYvczNoGvngFdCLOw0sBiYcrlRWk2fyskiKYNZcLuJdtinQRuIQWniOPnTivkoOYREevezQI0jYa_QfjjXchfBVY8HvsA0XOSBgvdSPrzV1rbrAl77Kbeaj6xv4I_vcx0E/s1600/DSC_0124.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLuTe9MfcOxZYvczNoGvngFdCLOw0sBiYcrlRWk2fyskiKYNZcLuJdtinQRuIQWniOPnTivkoOYREevezQI0jYa_QfjjXchfBVY8HvsA0XOSBgvdSPrzV1rbrAl77Kbeaj6xv4I_vcx0E/s400/DSC_0124.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And if you look directly at the front of the house,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> this is what you see:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2HayMpzmJqi9rCJHFZJBdfMhyO1INxqRv4Yso_7Xj8jSFCsEWAohMIiHkdpIXN83lYZy2uAxPqv-GYUX8ieJBHVW1_MmW2e2XWq6TCTVmBKekWqQQHshMH9x9cLAX1-UbJxylykiLzQ/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2HayMpzmJqi9rCJHFZJBdfMhyO1INxqRv4Yso_7Xj8jSFCsEWAohMIiHkdpIXN83lYZy2uAxPqv-GYUX8ieJBHVW1_MmW2e2XWq6TCTVmBKekWqQQHshMH9x9cLAX1-UbJxylykiLzQ/s400/DSC_0120.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One night not that long ago, we were awakened by a knock at the door around 4:30 in the morning. There was a deputy at the door who asked, "Do you have horses?" (in case you have a short memory, take a look at the above photos again.) He then announced that they'd been out since 1 a.m. and Animal Control had had been trying to catch them and find their owner!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(refer to above photos <em>again</em> if necessary)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So the husband, the daughter, and I leapt up, threw on some clothes, and took off in pursuit of Animal Control and my horses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(to be continued...)</span></div>
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</div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-65189028707866271352012-01-06T19:32:00.000-08:002012-01-06T19:40:42.963-08:00Ruthie and the Luckless Sisters,<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">No, really, this is not a new music trio. This is the "rest of the ladies" who've some to live with us. Joining Pointless, Aimless, Feckless, and Graceless are</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ruthless and Luckless (times 2)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Meet </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ruthless aka</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Ruthie"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She leads the flock with an iron claw...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5XMcg4pN458qTQUBGSRjTHtoB5B4xVNMx7-lAhwDJr1Kl2uyNwPuVVpZOO-rbbuxaWcyVCET79qvl2WDwEw-czcqa9QyNmapjEYePi_1qbAYk3TJINjdEp7GldZ1W8VFj6EBClCKuEs/s1600/DSC_0151.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5XMcg4pN458qTQUBGSRjTHtoB5B4xVNMx7-lAhwDJr1Kl2uyNwPuVVpZOO-rbbuxaWcyVCET79qvl2WDwEw-czcqa9QyNmapjEYePi_1qbAYk3TJINjdEp7GldZ1W8VFj6EBClCKuEs/s320/DSC_0151.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luckless Sisters</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luckless 1 and Luckless 2</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45ajGcg_jknJUrcloYa1h9UgEKxmZaYWz5ALV0b6cPgWnU-04-Tpj6TpqvwuX1V1cV6GqZJWHcuEHjFSqt7e3hawrdpacQN9TLzP2AFQLTcCkvzr7yvr-eUl9IMhUGnxYyhPk3gLF3WI/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45ajGcg_jknJUrcloYa1h9UgEKxmZaYWz5ALV0b6cPgWnU-04-Tpj6TpqvwuX1V1cV6GqZJWHcuEHjFSqt7e3hawrdpacQN9TLzP2AFQLTcCkvzr7yvr-eUl9IMhUGnxYyhPk3gLF3WI/s320/DSC_0152.JPG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the short time they have lived with me,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ONE was bitten by SamDammit </span><span style="font-size: large;">and became quite lame,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ONE fell into the trashcan containing the chicken feed</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and spent the day trapped when the lid fell down upon her </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">ONE apparently flew over the fence and had all her tail feathers pulled out by the neighbor's dogs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">AND THERE IS ONLY TWO OF THEM.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">*SIGH*</span></div>
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-63745544296943217252011-12-31T19:36:00.001-08:002011-12-31T19:39:02.781-08:00The Curious Cases of the Slightly Chomped Chewie<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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Not long ago I brought home a lovely new jar of "chewies" for the canines in my life. Now, most of us know that I have a little ADD/forgetfulness/old age/whothehellknowswhatiswrongwithme; so after handing out a few of these delectable treats, I forgot to screw the lid back on the jar...and this is what I came home to:<br />
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THE SCENE OF THE CRIME;<br />
DINING ROOM TABLE<br />
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THE EVIDENCE: <br />
EXHIBIT ONE -- <br />
TREAT JAR WITH SEVERAL <br />
SLIGHTLY CHOMPED CHEWIES STREWN ABOUT<br />
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EXHIBIT TWO:<br />
CLOSE UP OF EXHIBIT 1<br />
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AND THE USUAL SUSPECTS:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSWyDhJwoWrXDwINyxh4SE2u0bXq3EwDurwg8IDkevVmnosWrE5oTVGNFvVEP6_cp8JQ_d6F8mYpMMjoOQH972IN4lnMUizIFZFyhqu7Fi8JyPusirrT9ucVR13bwaN1hVOf5ADnIII4/s1600/DSC_0004+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSWyDhJwoWrXDwINyxh4SE2u0bXq3EwDurwg8IDkevVmnosWrE5oTVGNFvVEP6_cp8JQ_d6F8mYpMMjoOQH972IN4lnMUizIFZFyhqu7Fi8JyPusirrT9ucVR13bwaN1hVOf5ADnIII4/s320/DSC_0004+%25282%2529.JPG" width="294" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#1 LUKE. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">KNOWN JUVENILE DELINQUENT, </span></div>
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CHARGED WITH BREAKING AND EXITING PASTURE;</div>
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HAS RECORD WITH ANIMAL CONTROL</div>
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<strong> DEFENSE</strong> -</div>
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VEGETARIAN. HEAD WON'T FIT IN CHEWIE JAR</div>
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#2<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">AIMLESS, FECKLESS, POINTLESS, GRACELESS -</span></div>
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<strong>DEFENSE</strong>: </div>
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CLAIM TO NOT KNOW WHERE THE DINING ROOM IS.</div>
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FOUR WAY ALIBI</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">#3</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">SAMDAMMIT</span><br />
KNOWN REPROBATE.<br />
HAS DESTROYED SHOES, <br />
CLOTHING, AND ONE COUCH.<br />
<strong>DEFENSE:</strong> <br />
WOULD HAVE EATEN <em>ALL</em> THE CHEWIES<br />
THEN CHEWED THE CONTAINER TO SMITHEREENS.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#4</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">CLEO.</span></div>
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KNOWN RINGLEADER OF THE INFAMOUS "PYGMY GANG"</div>
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HAS PRIOR BREAKING AND ENTERING DINING ROOM</div>
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<strong>DEFENSE:</strong></div>
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VEGETARIAN. WOULD HAVE RAIDED CUPBOARD FOR GRAHAM CRACKERS INSTEAD.</div>
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AND FINAL SUSPECT<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NORMAN</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> aka MR. McNASTY</span><br />
HEAD AND ARMS WILL FIT INSIDE CHEWIE JAR<br />
<strong>DEFENSE:</strong> IN 14 YEARS, HAS SHOW NO INTEREST IN DETECTIVE WORK<br />
OTHER THAN TRYING OCCASIONALLY TRYING TO FIND HIS DINNER DISH<br />
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And there we have it, Esteemed Readers. It's a mystery. What's your guess?<br />
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</div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-27371113947444529152011-12-28T15:38:00.000-08:002011-12-28T16:09:45.968-08:00Happiness is a Warm Puppy
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jenny at the barn has a lovely little shepherd mix, Rosie, whom she has
been trying to convince I need as a companion to SamDammit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've been thinking about because Sam is so
active and both Perfect Grace and The Weiner are just too old to play with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I'm getting tennis elbow from
throwing a ball <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> all my pants are
torn from Sam tugging on them to get me to play.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I've changed my mind about Rosie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the last half century, I have never picked out a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ever.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ever.</i></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Diane and I were little, our folks got
us two Scottie puppies -- Button and Bow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wanted to name my puppy Tinkerbelle, but Mom wouldn't let me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matching dresses, matching dogs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We were
in high school when Button died; Diane got to pick out a new puppy,
Rachel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When BowBow died, someone had
given us a female Scottie they couldn't keep, so I got her - Pepper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Diane got married, she kept Rachel and
one of Pepper's puppies, Albert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
then for as long as I lived in AC, I didn't have a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I moved to CA, I received Woolee, my chow, as a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Woolee was practically perfect and I had him
for 12 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then sometime in there,
Jess's dad brought home a stray dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
Jess’s dad and I split up, I kept Thomas and we had him for 12 or 13
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <strong> "Woolee "</strong> "</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lZnIIqa8fKm3Ton40IAvrWkiqMilNgaW0Nwz-1nwjagANDAvIq3R6c6S5_wVu5hiPC6ZbIuvrtdPYh8lO78GTdiP1VQiKLMMz-ip-6EhDk8sigiwTcRmjRrfe1AMeT3zJASPYj4AD-4/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lZnIIqa8fKm3Ton40IAvrWkiqMilNgaW0Nwz-1nwjagANDAvIq3R6c6S5_wVu5hiPC6ZbIuvrtdPYh8lO78GTdiP1VQiKLMMz-ip-6EhDk8sigiwTcRmjRrfe1AMeT3zJASPYj4AD-4/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" /></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In 1996 or 7, Annie came to live with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She literally showed up in the front yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">"Anna-Banana"</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeJj8JPRvhHpv-hiR7-9G3_Z22RXHYdHWmDTjjPp35_RRieCSKpT29-FzSz_dJ4c_DPD359GQd0n3ZFY0ypItOipFZWvefu3FekJw6hPwWqQsFQbcG3xhByppJrJUTFfYl0arG6nxEkk/s1600/Nan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeJj8JPRvhHpv-hiR7-9G3_Z22RXHYdHWmDTjjPp35_RRieCSKpT29-FzSz_dJ4c_DPD359GQd0n3ZFY0ypItOipFZWvefu3FekJw6hPwWqQsFQbcG3xhByppJrJUTFfYl0arG6nxEkk/s320/Nan.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">About a year later<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allan fell in love with the dog-the-neighbor's-mother-couldn't-keep-and-was-taking-to-the-pound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, that was Gracie and she is 13 this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">"Perfect Grace"</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-aoz0HtaUndFU7K_Q_SYV71NoYMMI_lWvuKWozLvUmqDksvoA_7JIiiVG22ul2HOj4ZABDNHrWASU1QYSlnDrb5OK208ByA4NNS4Ba7rGiBNF7UO6WYmxUdwQeUEJ50q7p1OqYwJEFM/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-aoz0HtaUndFU7K_Q_SYV71NoYMMI_lWvuKWozLvUmqDksvoA_7JIiiVG22ul2HOj4ZABDNHrWASU1QYSlnDrb5OK208ByA4NNS4Ba7rGiBNF7UO6WYmxUdwQeUEJ50q7p1OqYwJEFM/s320/147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, then Jess's dad had a dog who howled and barked SO much that he got a 3-day notice to quit or be evicted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were only going to take him for the weekend, but Ozzie turned 12 this month and he doesn't appear to be going anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">"The Weiner"</span></span></span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf5i4g9hzz4HOH9s6zccuZXv7JwY-7XZk3zSucPHSGfSOQtGEN0_GTMbufv0-RhjdrVp38uOjRd-eUWmKw0je2-RsIS3mJgHiE0yesYnOquxUVBPuwaBbs1zV6VTa5uCBwA-DC1UtcDo/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcf5i4g9hzz4HOH9s6zccuZXv7JwY-7XZk3zSucPHSGfSOQtGEN0_GTMbufv0-RhjdrVp38uOjRd-eUWmKw0je2-RsIS3mJgHiE0yesYnOquxUVBPuwaBbs1zV6VTa5uCBwA-DC1UtcDo/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And Sam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Annie died in
2008, we didn’t get another dog. *sigh* <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until
December of 2009, a customer at the shop brought in a gen-yoo-wine Albertson’s
dog – one of those puppies being given away in front of the grocery store. And
we all know how THAT’S turned out.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"SamDAMMIT"</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8hqoUVjyg44m_R_VoXBw-8oeNcPOT9Ez8BeuDirC_yUp-84IO1ATBEHdzmPv06eAsLGUR5zebNijpUQoOuH5dcg_o7EI8BnlHBBvbYJv925-Eciq-j6sba7zhwqPduIRIsteSe1m1oU/s1600/IMAG0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV8hqoUVjyg44m_R_VoXBw-8oeNcPOT9Ez8BeuDirC_yUp-84IO1ATBEHdzmPv06eAsLGUR5zebNijpUQoOuH5dcg_o7EI8BnlHBBvbYJv925-Eciq-j6sba7zhwqPduIRIsteSe1m1oU/s320/IMAG0354.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So clearly, I've never gone out and gotten a dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I've never known, really, what kind dogs I've
had (except Bow and WooLee), never known a birthday, and never known where the
dogs came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I've always wanted a Border Collie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So when thinking about taking Rosie-from-the-Barn, I figured if she and
Sam lived, say, 12 years, I would be nearly eligible for Medicare and would be
not energetic enough for a border collie puppy.</span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meet Alice:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was born on October
7th of this year and came from a litter of puppies one of Diane's customers
had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after a whirlwind trip to
Chico to visit Dad and Diane, Alice is coming home with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write, she is snoozing under the
airplane seat in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
now known each other 36 hours and so far she has been a delight.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Alice Anne" waiting in her carrier at the airport</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZE6nWcshuFFfKj5R2br9KSYKDu1BP1dtF0zQ7sYeQAJD3VbXjsqTEOX1JqPK1WwOk4W1sa5XXbRD_bd1uuAchpEN5EpDe5_6ggxjztzi3ei_7rTX9GtWwgxrgdmzbbW56xMdkP6QmEU/s1600/IMAG0514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZE6nWcshuFFfKj5R2br9KSYKDu1BP1dtF0zQ7sYeQAJD3VbXjsqTEOX1JqPK1WwOk4W1sa5XXbRD_bd1uuAchpEN5EpDe5_6ggxjztzi3ei_7rTX9GtWwgxrgdmzbbW56xMdkP6QmEU/s320/IMAG0514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course I have not informed Allan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He'll be surprised, but he is used to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the years, he has come home from a
number of trips to various surprises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once
it was a new goat (we had two goats then, both agoutis, so he knew when I
slipped a caramel one in).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once he came
home to a new cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once he came home
and I'd sold the house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But this is the first time I've home with something like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprise!!!! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
And Alice, let me tell you a little secret: As far as lucky dogs go, baby girl, you have won the dog lottery!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_kajTFYLdsx8-eUUyR5Onz6hNtof827C6p2BWrvS1aap594_SHGmYHq3Xw9h2uWSGjN68fyOZEhQOuIkbZ9q0ly3t6l5q05S2vkk-6bS2I6DQ47DzeRD37vM3OXfmVt4n18XR_EC-ow/s1600/ALice+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim_kajTFYLdsx8-eUUyR5Onz6hNtof827C6p2BWrvS1aap594_SHGmYHq3Xw9h2uWSGjN68fyOZEhQOuIkbZ9q0ly3t6l5q05S2vkk-6bS2I6DQ47DzeRD37vM3OXfmVt4n18XR_EC-ow/s320/ALice+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-400236880990266032011-12-02T10:14:00.000-08:002011-12-02T10:18:20.052-08:00The Many Faces of Showing Goats...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GOAT'S FACE NEVER CHANGES...</span><br />
photographer extraordinaire: Barb(ie) L.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs-mpcjR4iLagq5ptzSiQ7BbLv_H_GVrHOGMn42bTTEIm9oAd991t9HumtWCdSf-MxGDOXA76usCBuQtV67gRq3RwhMYz8-Ntt91Xn7hU29PiaqJWJvabuUKYi13yb4GyVwCM4NkvFyo/s1600/DSC_0152.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTs-mpcjR4iLagq5ptzSiQ7BbLv_H_GVrHOGMn42bTTEIm9oAd991t9HumtWCdSf-MxGDOXA76usCBuQtV67gRq3RwhMYz8-Ntt91Xn7hU29PiaqJWJvabuUKYi13yb4GyVwCM4NkvFyo/s400/DSC_0152.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2JRJPcI8vCfq620h2Kv8kBpgk5aLJ41T6Zb61o-p4YHn54TKU1Soo5nur6LiOmyRpLDdp4Z0-7G3h_yLpfD9LriioOxLibHhqGBUMhdsALEC47zluwhaiST7Y5rxXltn13cI_ZuXP34/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2JRJPcI8vCfq620h2Kv8kBpgk5aLJ41T6Zb61o-p4YHn54TKU1Soo5nur6LiOmyRpLDdp4Z0-7G3h_yLpfD9LriioOxLibHhqGBUMhdsALEC47zluwhaiST7Y5rxXltn13cI_ZuXP34/s400/DSC_0154.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3-ApA_WwYypyceAAhzTkqJZUid_kVyKCv0E-l4Mwosu97CWFOcrRQqtuC2wA2TAsQE5DQSLQ491shawt0xlnzOhtl5ufoF-HS1Gn7pRRhb09xb04xSHYs1ptkJ_nDiKisAoZHx0vakY/s1600/DSC_0156.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3-ApA_WwYypyceAAhzTkqJZUid_kVyKCv0E-l4Mwosu97CWFOcrRQqtuC2wA2TAsQE5DQSLQ491shawt0xlnzOhtl5ufoF-HS1Gn7pRRhb09xb04xSHYs1ptkJ_nDiKisAoZHx0vakY/s400/DSC_0156.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: 0% 50%; border: 0px currentColor; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-82728868662053388512011-11-25T20:02:00.001-08:002011-11-25T20:10:36.362-08:00The new ladies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Without further ado, please meet the new ladies</span> ........</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">........below are Feckless, Aimless, Pointless, and Graceless......</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8ug2ZAXR_Y4jchVPUzh278jRkaZpodzOkbEu5N0l5Rv9yYqX8EF_rwIaTzood65Zx6e4BOAfJpQDj7Bt3vf7MNQoQ2Jobsdduk3ozzBpLZz83ld_-js42331zQ7jiJiHspYbliCwUNA/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8ug2ZAXR_Y4jchVPUzh278jRkaZpodzOkbEu5N0l5Rv9yYqX8EF_rwIaTzood65Zx6e4BOAfJpQDj7Bt3vf7MNQoQ2Jobsdduk3ozzBpLZz83ld_-js42331zQ7jiJiHspYbliCwUNA/s400/DSC_0118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">......or maybe it's Feckless, Graceless, Aimless, and Pointless....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...it could be Gracless, Pointless......</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">....Feckless, Aimlesss...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">or what the hell! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Say hello to the new ladies! </span></div>
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<br />denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-69780572380537738982011-11-25T08:43:00.001-08:002011-11-25T19:51:59.199-08:00<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t think a lot about Mom anymore – it’s not that I
don’t think about her, it’s just that the thoughts I have now are fleeting
thoughts that often bring a smile to my face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But with Thanksgiving coming up, for some reason I’ve been thinking of
her more and more…I don’t know why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
not like Thanksgiving was her favorite holiday or anything; maybe it’s because
her birthday is in November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GBBVdezt7AGgyTQiMOzneuVslJTVrPulzzRrdWVoSfubv1Phiv4L2GmKGXvwVBaROg-xQ0Upb6czwsx-wKi71a1lEDkaqOZJ3mZ125VBb6EVxPG8Kx0DT0fP8oTpYv_wPBuYHbJwhMg/s1600/DSC_0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8GBBVdezt7AGgyTQiMOzneuVslJTVrPulzzRrdWVoSfubv1Phiv4L2GmKGXvwVBaROg-xQ0Upb6czwsx-wKi71a1lEDkaqOZJ3mZ125VBb6EVxPG8Kx0DT0fP8oTpYv_wPBuYHbJwhMg/s400/DSC_0222.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <em>Holidays of Importance</em></span>, Mom always went all out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
She started about a week before, a</span>nd boy, could she set a table!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She had Irish linen table clothes that to be painstakingly washed and
ironed days before the holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diane
and I were pressed into service to clean and polish all the sterling --<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>from flatware to candlesticks to her sterling tea service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then about three days before the event, she<em><strong> </strong>Set The
Table</em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First a liner beneath the linen
table cloth, then we set all the place settings with the flatware (and let me
tell you, there wasn’t a utensil Mom did not know how to use and where to place
correctly).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then out came the cut glass
relish trays and salad bowls to match the Waterford cut-glass goblets at our
plates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then her antique Meissen platter
for the turkey and dressing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an
<em>Event</em>. We always dressed for the occasion. In fact in the photo below, Diane is sporting her favorite Thanksgiving outfit. Dad took us shopping and we picked out an outfit. Unfortunately Diane bought a mini-dress that did not meet Mom's approval (way too short), so Mom cut it off and made into a shirt!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Cs_zEzrPu5zl3fphFbRKTOlsMNeVOBLJhzqHNsQlvvAAeFrSKnjLVxSWHdhZxb9g_5NiW5mAs4ZTcjGvr3aCN_NypXns8zjmI339egE23jntS4GXG2AD_R8Ug813cSVODojdx_s8gmM/s1600/DSC_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Cs_zEzrPu5zl3fphFbRKTOlsMNeVOBLJhzqHNsQlvvAAeFrSKnjLVxSWHdhZxb9g_5NiW5mAs4ZTcjGvr3aCN_NypXns8zjmI339egE23jntS4GXG2AD_R8Ug813cSVODojdx_s8gmM/s400/DSC_0223.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mom was born in 1925 into a farming family in South Dakota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the last of 4 children; her mom was
close to 50 when she was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her family moved to Phoenix when she was still
a toddler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her dad had lost an arm in a
threshing accident, and he became a dairyman in Phoenix.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the Depression hit, the family lost everything: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom remembers her dad selling the cows off one
by one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got so bad that Mom moved to
town to live with a family where she worked as a <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maid and companion to their daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, Mom never graduated high school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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And that really affected her outlook on life. She worked hard to better herself -- she learned how to dress and bought the finest clothes; she learned impeccable manners; she taught Diane and I the same things. But over the years, I've let a lot of these traditions go by the wayside. I still KNOW how to set a killer table, but I'm just too worn out and short on time. I am sorry that I didn't work harder to carry on Mom's traditions...but oh, well. Happy Thanksgiving!</div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-36251873815058850732011-11-10T20:20:00.001-08:002011-11-11T13:35:41.248-08:00ToDo ListIf anyone cares, I have tomorrow off. I have a few things planned, or perhaps a few things I'm dreaming of. In no particular order, except, perhaps importance:<br />
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<li>Disbud the Littles (I hate, <span style="font-size: large;">hate</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">hate</span> disbudding. Any screaming you hear will be my own)</li>
<li>Clean the car (trust me. this is best view)</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHETyf9i68XCvot9n1uzTwH3mAqm1cgXzckCWzaNMFmYhNvbCU6HlQ4U8wqL4cKe7Rgr3YDD9fXSRle3GLyucWe1NsyzYRtJn_-KkAQsu5zKymblfZkLwz2PrfAM7m6B9ptoNrmIY3ShI/s1600/1110111930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHETyf9i68XCvot9n1uzTwH3mAqm1cgXzckCWzaNMFmYhNvbCU6HlQ4U8wqL4cKe7Rgr3YDD9fXSRle3GLyucWe1NsyzYRtJn_-KkAQsu5zKymblfZkLwz2PrfAM7m6B9ptoNrmIY3ShI/s320/1110111930.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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3. Priority mail goat registrations/transfers to NPGA (because...um, I'm a slacker</div>
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and haven't done it yet)</div>
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4. Tarp goat pens because we are supposed to get rain. (don't want Littles to get wet)</div>
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5. Take SamDammit for a brisk, energetic walk in the morning. (to wear him out)</div>
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6. Rehome Pedro's rooster. He's been here 20 minutes and I've already gotten one call from a neighbor. (unless SamDammit gives him a heart attack first)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNNhvMcpPRdW-r7qJcXfz5TJrItS8rAStdAbph8FcFqSBfTfeQul9BbPFczTjgegorFPApnGvq7hslJ7bQEwqE9kwOEkjy4K0o3ljp1sG0jvMMFejiqS9cGFVDWE_CTqSYEY5en4v2_8/s1600/rooster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNNhvMcpPRdW-r7qJcXfz5TJrItS8rAStdAbph8FcFqSBfTfeQul9BbPFczTjgegorFPApnGvq7hslJ7bQEwqE9kwOEkjy4K0o3ljp1sG0jvMMFejiqS9cGFVDWE_CTqSYEY5en4v2_8/s320/rooster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. Pay bills and balance checkbook (who knows I may find surprise money)</div>
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Any bets on what gets done?</div>
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</div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-76509336788812530552011-11-07T15:22:00.000-08:002011-11-07T15:22:35.259-08:00(and showing in Rosamond)I don't get much of a chance to show my goats: It's hard to get the weekends off and it's a lot of work for a "one-woman" show. But I put in for weekend off and made plans to meet a friend up in Rosamond at one of our local club's Halloween shows -- "local" being a relative term; it was almost 500 miles round trip.<br />
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I loaded my goaties, got my iPod (all 11 songs), and hit the road! California has such a varied terrain (most of it dry and arid) that there's always something new and fun to see. After making it through the Los Angeles traffic, I headed up through the mountains....<br />
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got off on Hwy 138 to cut across the valley to the high desert. I passed the Mormom Rocks</div>
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which always amaze when I go by...</div>
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as soon as you get over the hills, the valley looks pretty flat....</div>
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and after four hours or so, goaties and I arrived. The truck was a little worse for the wear, </div>
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but goaties and I were in fine shape. </div>
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I was sharing a room with my good friend,</div>
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Barb "Crazy Barby" Lutz,</div>
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seamstress extraordinaire....</div>
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....who had convinced me to enter the costume class with her. She would make the costumes; I would supply a goat. So Saturday, she showed her goats (Platinum Acres Cowboy Chase below)....</div>
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...and I showed mine (Sassy and me in the junior doe line up)...</div>
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...then Sunday......</div>
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may we present</div>
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the Sesame Street Pygmies</div>
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<br /></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-63780778049083944872011-11-07T14:51:00.000-08:002011-11-07T14:51:01.896-08:00Goat Friends... judging in Longview and Showing in Rosamund<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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Goat people are a different sort of people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They're not just goat farmers:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they are CPAs and teachers and executives
and law enforcement and nurses and court reporters (me!) and physical
therapists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some of them are my best
friends...we were brought together by our goats, but have found much common
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, most of the blogs I follow are
goat-related and some of my favorite "on line" friends are goat folk
too...coincidence?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think not!<o:p></o:p></div>
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So in Longview, I wandered on down to the showgrounds when my show was
ready to start - to see old friends and meet some new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(As a judge, I can't go to the showgruonds
early while the other judge is still judging)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It's funny that i may see some of these people three or four times a
year, usually when I'm judging or at a board meeting, but we are kindred souls and our
friendship picks up just where we left off a months before.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This particular show was an Oktoberfest show, and the
Northwest clan put on a <em><strong>show</strong></em>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
a pumpkin carving contest, a remote fart machine, a costume contest...oh and
some goats, too!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kid's costume
contest was darling, of course, especially the line up of parents on the other
side of the arena holding cameras.</div>
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But my very favorite costume is one worn by friend and
fellow judge, Joyce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was dressed as
"La Cabra,"<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which has been a
work in process for some time now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
one was spectacular -- her son's shiny red disco pants, full mask, and cape --
and her goat was the round girl....priceless!</div>
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But all good thing must come to an end, and Sunday
evening with many hugs, off<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span> headed to
the airport to fly home, hang up my travel hat, and wait for another adventure...</div>
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</span>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-16803931271946320602011-11-07T14:40:00.000-08:002011-11-07T14:40:07.830-08:00La Turista Treks On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After my impromptu cheering for the arrival of the Honor
Flight, I headed down to pick up my car and drive to Longview.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a rather short drive -- less than an hour and
arrived at my hotel before noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wasn't judging til late in the afternoon, so I still had plenty of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I checked in and I had a room with a KING BED ALL TO
MYSELF.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I immediately felt the need for
a nap, but was able to resist because I wanted to explore the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'd picked up a local map and brochure in the
hotel lobby and was ready for action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whenever I travel, I look for something noteworthy to
see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I embrace my inner dorkiness, and
even though I'm usually alone,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I head
out to see the sights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I've been to the
rattlesnake museum in Albuquerque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In
New Orleans, I did a graveyard tour in a mule-drawn buggy and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the D-Day museum (where I saw a USAF flight
jacket identical to the one Dad gave me years ago and still have).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This summer after I judged in Hagerstown,
Md.,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spent an afternoon at the
battlefield of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Antietam </span>(did my dad proud by watching
the entire documentary and a reenactment).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Driving in Texas once, I became addicted to stopping and reading the
roadside historical markers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those
Texans have a marker for nearly everything, and I was compelled to stop at as
many as I could, in fear that I'd miss a good one!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I was also able to stop and do a little
holiday shopping at Bubba's liquor store and home-made candle shop).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Longview isn't very big, but after a quick trip to a
local grocery for lunch stuff (one bbq'd chicken breast, apples, iced tea), I
saw the sights -- er, the sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course, everyone knows that Longview is world renowned for having the
smallest, architectural suspension bridge. (oh, you didn't know that?)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's for squirrels, built over a busy road,
in an effort to keep the squirrels from being hit by cars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm sure squirrels actually do use it (I
didn't get to see any), but do they use it instead of the street?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, do they run<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>up a tree, across the bridge, then back down
a tree, instead of just crossing the street? It remains a mystery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I walked around the historic downtown area (four
blocks) or so and learned a lot a little about the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's a small town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had gotten up really early to catch my
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A king-sized bed,
alone, no one to share it with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We've a
king bed at home too, but it gets a little small for all six of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that's right, six.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two people, three dogs, one cat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's 20 feet, 3.5 tails, and 5 other faces
to avoid with their morning breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So I laid down flat on my back and spreadeagled as far as I could:
Luxury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I decided to gather all the
pillows where I wanted them, and prop up and read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finished off this hedonism by watching
reruns of SNL, lying sideways on the bed, eating an apple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*sigh*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was glorious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally it was time to head to show...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-26989298416418523602011-11-02T12:05:00.001-07:002011-11-15T20:17:54.900-08:00A Letter to My Daughter on Her 21st Birthday<br />
Dear Jessica,<br />
<br />
I can’t believe that you are actually 21 years old today. I have spent the last couple of weeks trying to write you a Letter of Great Importance and Wisdom, but it reads a lot like those little inspirational books you see at the local bookstore. So instead I am going to tell you the story of this gift I am sending you, followed, perhaps, by a few Words of Great Importance and Wisdom.<br />
So you should have opened the gift by now and see that it’s an antique topaz ring. It was Grandma’s ring (you, Aunt Diane, and Grandma all have November birthdays).<br />
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Well, this topaz ring was given to Grandma on her 21st birthday by her beau at the time, so that makes this ring 65 years old. (G’ma was born in 1925). Grandma always made a big deal about the ring -- what an expensive gift it was at the time, etc., etc. And it is a big, pretty stone. Since Aunt Diane was a November birthday as well it was generally assumed that she would be given the ring on her 21st birthday. I was a little put out of shape because I really liked the ring and Diane always got everything (in my view anyway).<br />
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Enter Aunt Florence and Uncle Joe, who weren’t an aunt or uncle at all, but rather old friends from when Grandpa and Grandma were stationed in Germany in the 50s. Believe it or not, Aunt Florence was born in November as well! And when Diane turned 21, Aunt Florence gave her her topaz ring. It was a smoky topaz and about the size of a dime with scalloped edges (I didn’t like it all).<br />
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But, sure enough that opened up Grandma’s topaz ring for me! And on my 21st birthday, I got the ring and G’ma and I took it to a jeweler to have it reset and maybe put a little diamond on either side. <br />
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At the jeweler’s, to Grandma’s horror, we found out that the ring was a fake. It’s a really nice fake and set in 14k, but it’s still a fake. But I liked the ring so we ended up fixing the mount on it, and I wore it for a long time. We did not, however, hear much about that boyfriend anymore. <br />
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And now on your 21st, I am handing this ring down to you. It might not be a real topaz, but it’s an heirloom. It comes from my mother and has a really great story.<br />
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Now for my words of wisdom: I could take up pages telling you how to respect yourself and live life to the fullest and be thankful for what you have, but I think my advice comes down to this –<br />
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Life is not about making good decisions; it is about making good choices. When you are given one, try to choose the best one. There aren’t always right and wrong choices, sometimes only a better choice. It may not be the easiest or most pleasant choice, but you are a smart girl and know right from wrong. Follow these words and you’ll do fine wherever your life takes you…<br />
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I love you,<br />
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Mom<br />
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<br />denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-60631723738580018012011-10-13T14:52:00.000-07:002011-10-13T14:52:04.692-07:00The Traveling Twit on Tour, Part II had a judging assignment in Longview, WA., last weekend, flying into Portland. I'm actually one of those people who don't mind traveling alone a bit. In fact, I enjoy it. Everything is a new adventure for me, I'll talk to practically anyone, and I seem to be lacking any type of an embarrassment or shyness gene.<br />
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I landed in Portland and as I came out of security, both sides of the hallway were lined with with men and women holding American flags, posters, and placards. As I walked through I asked one of them what was going on. And he replied, "An Honor Flight." <br />
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The first part of the lineup was a Vet's Harley rider's group with their members lining about 15 on each side with their color guard. Then came other VFW members, some civilians, boy scouts, etc.<br />
I got about halfway to the rental cars, then I turned around and went back. I didn't have anywhere to be until 5 p.m., so I decided to check it out. I'm a sucker for anything military.<br />
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So I asked again what was going on. Fifty or sixty WWII veterans were on an "Honor Flight" and returning from Washington, D.C. Here's what I found out:<br />
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<strong>"Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. We transport our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans – World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill."</strong><br />
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And they don't charge the veterans a dime. How cool is that?<br />
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So I decided to hang around and welcome the heroes home. The flight was delayed for an hour, but that gave me lots of time to chat people up. I met some really great guys from the Tualatin VFW Post 3452 (who tried very enthusiastically to get me to join them for breakfast afterwards at the hall, but I declined!). They were mostly Vietnam vets. And when they asked what I was doing in Portland, they were <strong><em>terribly impressed to meet a goat judge. </em></strong>Well, who wouldn't be?</div>
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And then, here they came -- all the World War II veterans:</div>
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and everyone clapped and cheered and waved flags and I cried (just little). Look at them. Aren't they awesome? God bless America!</div>
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<br /></div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-49702844302640440022011-09-30T19:56:00.000-07:002011-09-30T19:56:24.992-07:00My Day Off!!Yippee! Today is my day off! <br />
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Got up about 7 a.m...read the paper in bed with the hubs and some coffee...showered and got ready for the day...ate breakfast...fed the chicks...fed the goats... played ball with SamDammit...faxed tax info to Donna...put the mail out...packed my lunch and the dinner I made for Liz into the car...put the mail out...started a load of laundry....loaded the dogs into the car and went to work...saw that SamDammit had knocked over the poison bait in the back alley and may or may not have ingested some.... called Poison Control... called the exterminator company...got NO EFFING RESPONSE... called the vet...dogs seemed okay so I called a vendor...sold some crap...wrote a purchase order...sold some more crap...called the vet back...called the health insurance about my dad...sold more crap...called my sister in re the call to the insurance (twice)...left work at 1 p.m. ...waited for the vet's call back...on vet's instructions, dosed the dogs with 1 tbs of hydrogen peroxide each to induce vomiting (looking for the green color of rat poison)...waited for dogs to vomit...watched Weiner vomit clear, yet, very foamy fluid...waited for Sam... called vet back because Sam didn't vomit...got the okay to observe SamDammit for 24 hours... whereupon in 24 minutes Sam Dammit decided to upchuck a lovely pile of clear vomit....I watered the all the plants on the back porch...changed the laundry...met Teri C at the house and went to the barn to give her a riding lesson... upon leaving the barn at 6 p.m. noticed that Ilean had a swollen ugly hock...called the barn manager... buted Ilean with a note to call me in the a.m...drove home...picked up the mail...went to the bank...came back...fed the goats...fed the dogs...got a call from the husband...he is coming home...just started the grill to make some burgers....<br />
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Yippee! Today is my day off!denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-91484478110645751662011-09-12T11:07:00.000-07:002011-09-12T11:47:30.224-07:00The Travails of the Traveling Toilet Seat<br />
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I am not a terribly fussy person (I don't think). And when it comes bathrooms -- toilets, to put it more precisely --<br />
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<li> I want it clean</li>
<li> I want it private</li>
<li> I want it not to move.</li>
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When we moved into this house, we put new toilets seat on all the toilets, taking care of my first requirement. And they held up admirably for about ten years. We've been here eleven.<br />
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The privacy was a little harder to handle as a previous owner was a stained glass artist who removed two large glass panels in the master bath when she moved. There is a gaping hole right in front of the toilet, facing a large tub. If, while seated on the potty, you lean forward and look out that "window" to the right, you are able to converse with whomever is in the shower, as they have a similar large opening from the shower to the tub. But over the last eleven years, Allan and I have managed to keep our privacy.<br />
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Now, I also like a stationary toilet seat. Sometime in 2010, I noticed one night that the seat was loose. So I mentioned it to Allan, who said he'd fix it. It just needed a nut. A few months after that, as I sat down one midnight, I swiveled sharply to the left and nearly fell off. Now the whole bolt was gone. More mumbling, more midnight promises. </div>
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It wasn't long after that, that when visiting the establishment, I fell right in. <em>There was no seat all. </em>Oh, wait. Yes, there was -- it was leaning against the wall. Louder, nastier mumbling and a quick under-the-covers kick.</div>
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Now I had the option of going downstairs in the wee hours, or balancing delicately on a very slippery, slide-y seat to wee. Well, over the next <em><strong>three months, </strong></em>I achieved an incredible sense of balance...before I finally went out and bought a new seat, compete with very lovely and tight bolts..... Ahhh, heaven.</div>
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Except for that whole privacy thing...</div>
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**Now some of you may wonder why Allan didn't fix the bolt or why I just didn't do it myself. Our bedroom is on the second floor, so we usually just use a spare bathroom on the first floor: Until bed time. Sometime between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m., I would often feel a need to visit the potty. Due to anatomy, I am the chief "sitter" in the house. I'd sit, spin, stumble back to bed, and mumble to <em>please fix the damn seat</em>. Of course, we'd forget by the time the alarm went off.</div>
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<br />denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009328001575804290.post-48795224099210756572011-08-16T20:43:00.000-07:002011-08-16T20:43:16.936-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you were to take these two</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>\/</strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>\/</strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>\/</strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVqTZoWUlyb2BoweRjf-bQpiCy5yOWkhGme8brfW8q8ZIB8EHmg7IoIiM9XH5J11MyxM1dim3r27nAVl4Rqsv7PN3j-eNFr8AQWZgu1DG4-Iij-TwQulsDPfKAqvBG99wef5JL651S4g/s1600/laughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVqTZoWUlyb2BoweRjf-bQpiCy5yOWkhGme8brfW8q8ZIB8EHmg7IoIiM9XH5J11MyxM1dim3r27nAVl4Rqsv7PN3j-eNFr8AQWZgu1DG4-Iij-TwQulsDPfKAqvBG99wef5JL651S4g/s400/laughter.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and multiply them by two</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">then add</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">\/</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">this</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDNEtfLDDD2HnReZyQCG87SZh8H7WCr9sTdMeIWEYMWLn_fwgULHxAcVm7UdFD73OHqmZbgSBaLUQ9hMG9XWQIDnZeU-O4zWb2ffcEwnp32zLfH2Hucccrr-eQOpkgFrYCJC_9W3ORrw/s1600/0815111818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDNEtfLDDD2HnReZyQCG87SZh8H7WCr9sTdMeIWEYMWLn_fwgULHxAcVm7UdFD73OHqmZbgSBaLUQ9hMG9XWQIDnZeU-O4zWb2ffcEwnp32zLfH2Hucccrr-eQOpkgFrYCJC_9W3ORrw/s400/0815111818.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">plus this</span></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>\/</strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>\/</strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>\/</strong></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4wjvO1O7iwyJKjlqbuFBNAixkh7momeUNBmzsmdrrN5PO_63zyRobrdQkyBVCTA70HD-AJ_wp0Dbm6QRKwOu6Lzs_oWYo-bcgCl84xgBldGxEI2qjWUzIJ1-nZ9HaX5EWR66vvE-3-s/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4wjvO1O7iwyJKjlqbuFBNAixkh7momeUNBmzsmdrrN5PO_63zyRobrdQkyBVCTA70HD-AJ_wp0Dbm6QRKwOu6Lzs_oWYo-bcgCl84xgBldGxEI2qjWUzIJ1-nZ9HaX5EWR66vvE-3-s/s320/photo.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">what do you get? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Four great friends having a wonderful time.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">'Nuf said.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>denise fhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14621463650135539157noreply@blogger.com1