no news is good news, right?

Isn't that the basic understanding?

I'm not a sad person. I'm just a very family-oriented person who has not found her roots here. Not so good with the words lately. Please forgive me.

Where do I go when I don't show up at blogger?

I'm playing tug with my dog.
I'm trying out new recipes to share with my husband.
I'm watching reruns of favorite TV episodes.
I'm reading very familiar books.
I'm working until very late.
I'm helping my neighbor's daughter with her math homework.

I find it very difficult to meet and mingle with people. Yes, I love my neighbor. She and I have become quite good friends. Our timing usually doesn't match up and it's hard to catch even a moment with her. My co-workers are great people, and we get along very well. I think Gerald even enjoys hanging out with them, the couple of times we've all gone out together.

I'm grateful for Gerald's salary on mids-shift, but I'm looking forward to the time we'll have together when he goes back to days. That way, we can be a couple again, and hang out with other couples. It's alot easier for me to make friends when there are other people involved.... that sounds weird, but that's how it is in my head, so let's just roll with it.

Talking with Gerald I realize a great truth. Making friends (and in essence, digging our roots a little deeper) should NOT be easy at all, if we're doing it right. When I say easy I mean effortless. Hehe... I'm reminded of a great Dolly Parton line in Steel Magnolias.... you KNEW I was going to go there... here it is, "There is no such thing as Natural Beauty... why... It takes some effort to look like this..." And I know it was BLATANTLY off-topic, but it's the whole effort thing. And that paragraph is just SO ME, that it should make you smile. It makes me!!!

So anyway, Thank you for worrying about me. I love you! I'm looking forward to letting you know how this whole effort thing pans out. Don't picture me weeping into my bathrobe and a box of kleenex on the sofa. I'm fine. :-) Sleepy, because it's past my bedtime, and a little hungry, but fine. :-)

Hello All! Christmas was good. We got to spend time with the W's and their new baby in SC. It was the first time I met the little angel, and she's just so adorable! During the week between Christmas and New Years, I did pretty much nothing. I cooked a lot. Gerald and I drove to SC for the day, that was pretty much it. He had to work Christmas Eve/Day and New Year's Eve/Day. I spent New Year's Eve online, getting lost in the iTunes store. It sucks you in. Happy 2007.

I've been a little blue lately. Well, that's an understatement, but if I were to come all out with it, it would depress everyone. So let's just say I've been blue. I know exactly why that is, but I'm having trouble distinguishing my reasons from my excuses. You see, they're very similar... I hate that. Just when I think there's a good reason, POOF it turns into an excuse before my very eyes.

reason: 2.a statement presented in justification or explanation of a belief or action.
excuse: 8.an explanation offered as a reason for being excused; (v) to offer an apology for; seek to remove the blame of

From my understanding, an excuse comes when there's blame to be placed, and it's generally intended to deflect the blame away from one's self. (Did I sound british there? 'Cause I did in my head.)

I find myself trying to "justify" my actions to WAY too many people lately. (In a "but, but, but...," whiney kind of way.") If living in NYC taught me one thing, it's that so many people really just don't care what you do or how you do it. If they're not directly affected, your actions don't matter to them! The thing is, though, when I begin "justifying" my actions that DO affect others, they come across as excuses. This hit home just the other day. And of course, like any good learning experience, it's raising more questions than answering them. So many, in fact, that they're all jumbled around in my head and I can't sort through them. I hate that!

Anyway, that's what's been on my mind lately. And I guess I found some time to blog after all. Past my bedtime, but it's okay. I needed the brain-dump. Gnite!

In Honor of my Best Furry Friend

from this website, I give you.... Neutered Dog Haikus

My… my manhood, it’ gone.
Oh my Dog! It’s frickin’ gone!
No longer a dog.

My two sweet playthings,
taken, without my consent,
nothing to lick now.
- Snikt

First you picked me up
I licked your nose, we were friends
Then you took my balls
- scherrah

So young and naieve
You helped to instill in me
Safe sex awareness
- kathryn

what was is no more
flaccid skin hanging from
minimalist crotch
- Mymble

They gave me a shot
Then they cut off my being
I'm NOT man's best friend
- Scottro

Ride in truck to vet,
Smell like anesthesia;
No nookie for me.
- Mike Perry

I dozed off a pup
I awoke feeling listless
Am I now a man?
- lj

They call it humane
They don't do it to humans
I think they tell lies
- andy

do not fret my pet
a stitch in time can save nine
you'll get over it
-angela

Okay, that's enough doggie-neuter humor. He's resting fine but still a little groggy from the anesthesia. He's such a big boy!..... er...umm... yeah.

Christmas Trivia

• California, Oregon, Michigan, Washington, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and North Carolina are the top Christmas tree producing states. Oregon is the leading producer of Christmas trees - 8.6 million in 1998.
• Christmas is not widely celebrated in Scotland. Some historians believe that Christmas is downplayed in Scotland because of the influence of the Presbyterian Church (or Kirk), which considered Christmas a "Papist," or Catholic event. As a result, Christmas in Scotland tends to be somber.
• Christmas trees are edible. Many parts of pines, spruces, and firs can be eaten. The needles are a good source of vitamin C. Pine nuts, or pine cones, are also a good source of nutrition.
• Cultured Christmas trees must be shaped as they grow to produce fuller foliage. To slow the upward growth and to encourage branching, they are hand-clipped in each spring. Trees grown in the wild have sparser branches, and are known in the industry as "Charlie Brown" trees.
• For every real Christmas tree harvested, 2 to 3 seedlings are planted in its place.
• Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is narrated by none other than Frankenstein himself, Boris Karloff. Thurl Ravenscroft, famous as the voice of Tony "They're Great!" the Tiger, sings the trademark song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." And June Forray, best known as the voice of Bulwinkle's sidekick, Rocky the Squirrel, makes an uncredited appearance as the voice of the adorable Cindy Lou Who, the tiniest Who in Who-ville. (from http://www.rambles.net/grinch_xmas.html)
• It is estimated that 400,000 people become sick each year from eating tainted Christmas leftovers.
• New York City's Empire State Building's world famous tower lights are turned off every night at midnight with the exception of New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and St. Patrick's Day, when they are illuminated until 3 a.m.
• More diamonds are purchased at Christmas -time (31 percent) than during any other holiday or occasion during the year.

from http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy

tee hee....

Found this online.... SO TRUE! :-)

http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/hdogx3.html

Wrapping Presents with Dogs

1. Gather presents, boxes, paper, etc. in middle of living room floor. 2. Get tape back from puppy. 3. Remove scissors from older dog's mouth. 4. Open box. 5. Take puppy out of box. 6. Remove tape from older dog's mouth. 7. Take scissors away from puppy. 8. Put present in box. 9. Remove present from puppy's mouth. 10. Put back in box after removing puppy from box. 11. Take scissors from older dog and sit on them. 12. Remove puppy from box and put on lid. 13. Take tape away from older dog. 14. Unroll paper. 15. Take puppy OFF box. 16. Cut paper being careful not to cut puppy's foot or nose that is getting in the way as he "helps." 17. Let puppy tear remaining paper. 18. Take puppy off box. 19. Wrap paper around box. 20. Remove puppy from box & take wrapping paper from its mouth. 21. Tell older dog to fetch the tape so he will stop stealing it. 22. Take scissors away from puppy. 23. Take tape older dog is holding. 24. Quickly tape one spot before taking scissors from older dog & sitting on them again. 25. Fend off puppy trying to steal tape & tape another spot. 26. Take bow from older dog. 27. Go get roll of wrapping paper puppy ran off with. 28. Take scissors from older dog who took them when you got up. 29. Give pen to older dog to hold so he stops licking your face. 30. Remove puppy from present & hurriedly slap tape on to hold the paper on. 31. Take now soggy bow from puppy & tape on since the sticky stuff no longer sticks. 32. Take pen from older dog, address tag & affix while puppy tries to eat pen. 33. Grab present before puppy opens it & put it away. 34. Clean up mess puppy & older dog made playing tug-of-war with remnants of wrapping paper. 35. Put away rest of wrapping supplies & tell dogs what good helpers they are.

Warning... stream of consciousness ahead may get choppy.

-watching Polar Express...
-I've been in the Christmas spirit for a while now.
-work's going well
-We drew "secret Santas" today, and I'm glad I got who I got. She'll be easy to buy for.
-I have already bought Gerald 2 presents, and my MIL 2. So far, that's it.
-I need to get on the shopping train! :-) (and we come full circle to Polar Express.) "Caribou!?!"
-My dog is the cutest in the world. He needs to go potty now.

Ok... that's it for tonight. I've got doggie-induced ADD
L8R!