Lightning Update

We are completely up & running over a week after our home got hit by lightning. Come to find out though, it wasn't the house that got hit. It was the underground wiring in our backyard's sprinkler system! Todd had sprinkler repair guys out today because one zone of the sprinklers out back wouldn't work. They dug & dug & dug and finally found it - the wire that had been hit.

When the storm hit that night, I was in our bedroom. The main exterior wall is a few feet from the huge maple tree we have out back. I heard a loud pop that night and naturally assumed the tree got hit. Nope, it was the sprinkler wiring between the tree and our house. I'm feeling very fortunate that it didn't get any closer to our home and that we were safe.

My awesome husband (that's Todd - you know - the guy in the picture at the top of this blog) has replaced our automatic garage door opener, replaced the panel to the sprinkler system, and worked with the sprinkler people and telephone people to get everything replaced. Like I said, Todd is awesome.

Monday: Restoreth My Self-Esteem

I love doing puzzles - crosswords, Sudoku, Scrabble, etc. Since we've been off for the summer, I've been doing my puzzles in the newspapers every day. The puzzles get harder & harder as the week progresses, and I usually find myself struggling to finish the Sudoku by the week's end.

Well, today is Monday. Back to the easy puzzles! My self-esteem has been restored!

Fun While It Lasted!

Last week was my last full week before returning to school. This week I have two days of training for my ESL certification (that I won't even use). Next week I have a full, 40-hour curriculum training. zzzzzz.

So here's how the shit's gonna hit the fan for me in the four upcoming weeks:
- ESL certification training
- helping a friend pack her home to close in one week
- start setting up my classroom
- Steve & Mackey to vet
- Curriculum training
- a few trips to the airport
- 3-day Scrapbook Retreat
- making meals to freeze for us, grandparents, mom
- Mom having open heart surgery
- taking care of mom
- Staff Development
- Back to School Night
- finishing classroom
- first day of school

I know there's more, but I'm already tired. The best part? Todd and I will be able to spend some time apart for the first time in a couple of months! The worst part? I don't think my 1am - 10am sleep schedule is going to fly.

Pupsicles!

When I told my mom that I was making "pupsicles" for the dogs she said, "Well that would spoil them." Uh, yeah . . . . I don't really think they can get any more rotten than they already are though!

To make the pupsicles (btw I think I need to give some as catsicles now), I used some plain fat-free yogurt, a VERY ripe banana, some peanut butter, and some milk. Put it all in the blender and blend thoroughly. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. I used our cute (and only) ice cube trays from Ikea. Obviously the dogs LOVED them!



They don't look spoiled, do they? Never mind. Don't answer that!

Today was my devirginizing, first trip to SPROUTS! The grocery gods finally put in a Sprouts near my neighborhood and I loved it!

First, I started out at lunch w/ my friend Amy H. (I have lots of Amys) and her cutie pie Peter. Today was Peter's first time dipping chips into Ranch & he was an instant fan!

Then we ventured over to Sprouts. I was so excited! Amy has been shopping at Sprouts for a while now & was there to show me the ropes.

Amy & Peter (L) & Me w/ my cart (R). Excuse my skeeriness. The vet only gave me 20 minutes to get to their office w/ Steve this morning.

My cart only $86 later - lots of meat, fruit, veggies, and wine. Plus, I got a free bag!

"Man, he's a WUSS!"

"Maaannnnn . . . . he's a WUSS!" (insert head shake)
That's one of the first things I heard today. It was a description of this:



That description of Steve was from the VET! ha!!! I took Steve in to have his incision checked because it was looking, uummmmm, a little "fleshy" in between the stitches. When the vet checked him, Steve would have nothing to do with it. The doctor took him into the back and the wailing began. Dr. K said Steve started screaming before the doctor even touched him!

Stevie was so excited about going somewhere in the car, and Pippin barked & cried when he left. (poor girl) When we got to the vet's office, Steve got out of the car & jumped right back in! Then he didn't want to go in the exam room. He doesn't forget!

All is well with Steve's incision, but both vets have recommended that we "keep him as calm as possible." Yeah, right.

What a baby. I mean, he started out like this:

And look how much he's grown! (measurements compliments of Mom & Dad)

He might be a baby, but he's a BIG BABY!! Our big baby. :)

Cartoon for Today

Hear no evil. See no evil. Speak no evil.

Blog no evil??? Uh, I don't think so!