The Dackel Princess

Flashback Friday!

I actually posted a great post (I think) last night for today. Then when I was trying to correct a link I erased it all! How I could do that is simply beyond me! In any case I am trying to redo it although I know the prose will not be nearly as good.

I’ve decided to start having my very own Meme on Fridays. It will be called Friday Flashback. I’m trying to create a link back, but please be patient. I know very little about writing actual HTML code, but I am trying to learn.

Okay, the first picture is of my brother, my sister, Mel in the middle, striking a pose. and little squirt me, playing the kazoo. Mel and Dickie were best friends growing up. They were just 2 years apart in age and had so much in common. I was 5 years younger and quite a pain in the neck! Sadly, my brother passed away at the young age of 26 from cancer.

The next picture was taken when I was 15. I had all four Wisdom Teeth removed as well as part of my jaw bone. Back then they actually hospitalized you. I was swollen like a chipmunk, and totally spaced out on pain-killers!

This is my High School graduation picture. I was not yet 17 years old. I loved that dress as it was a mini, mini, mini skirt. I definitely don’t wear them that short now!

This is me with my sister Mel. In our twenties we looked very much alike. I don’t think we look so much alike now. We always joke that we are really twins separated by 5 years!

Lastly, is a picture of Amanda at about four and a half years old. She was the flower girl in a wedding. She did a great job and I was very proud. I have always loved Mandy in dresses and flowers in her hair!

So Fridays will now be my Flashback Fridays. I will be scanning in pictures and then telling you the story behind them. Hopefully next time I won’t erase what I have written!

What Is Written

The other day I posted an entry about how much I don’t like to clean, and yet, how it simply must be done. I was amused to find in my SPAM catcher, some of the funniest comments yet. So I decided to share them with you. Here is what they wrote…

“Insightful comments, from everyone. So what is your ultimate conclusion, do you think? Given all the input and your experiences thus far, I mean.”

Okay, there was absolutely nothing insightful about my dislike of spring cleaning, except perhaps that it must be done.

“Oi! That was brilliant! Bloody brilliant, in fact! Not often I find a blurb worth remarking upon, but this one was worth it. Good job, lad!”

As you all know, I am not a lad, and even I know that my post was not brilliant!

“I must tell you, your piece goes to the heart of the issue. Your clarity leaves me wanting to know more. I will immediately grab your feed to keep up to date with your site. Alleging thanks is simply my little way of saying bravo for a marvelous resource. Let In my best wishes for your next post.”

The heart of what issue? The heart of disliking to clean in the spring? Well if that is the case, I am a genuis!

“I am not new to blogging and genuinely value your site. There is much original message that peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your internet site and keep checking you out.”

Glad someone values the site, but that particular post was not one of my best. I’m so glad the SPAM senders enjoyed it though!

“Hi – I want to say thank you for an interesting site about a subject I have had an interest in for a while now. I have been lurking and reading the comments avidly so just wanted to express my gratitude for providing me with some very good reading material. I look forward to more, and taking a more proactive part in the discussions here, whilst learning too!!”

Now, see! I mean, how many of you actually think that cleaning is so interesting that you would write that you want to express your gratitude!

Anyway, occasionally when I read my spam folder I just burst out laughing at what the spammers will write just to get their links up for you all to follow. The funny thing is, thank goodness for my SPAM guard, because those sights are way too adult for all of us.

Random Dozen

clovers

2nd Cup Of Coffee

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly? Very much.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe? I survived a terrible accident. There have been so many challenges in life since that time.

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging? I write early in the evening, I read early in the morning.

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you’ve ever been really early or really late for? I was very early to the church for my second wedding! Ha! I could hardly wait! I was very late delivering my first baby! Three weeks!!!

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring? Green grass and flowers!

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick’s Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty’s Day? Usually not, but heck, today I will.

7. One of Caesar’s assassins, Casca, said, “But, for my own part, it was Greek to me,” which of course means he didn’t understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is “Greek to you,” something incomprehensible or indecipherable? Too many things to list.

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live? Lamb. A wet lamb. (Although today it is sunny!)

9. “An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.” -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it? Probably write more.

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold? Pictures of my loved ones. Old and new!

11. “The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you.” Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day. It’s an antique pewter plate that was given to me by our dear friend, Otto before his death.

12. Just for a bit o’ fun, click here and then report your Irish name. Mine is Gemma O’Callaghan! I love it!

Cleaning, Dackels

Monday was Veterinarian day. The three dackels went in for their yearly shots, examinations and I bought their heart-worm and flea & tick medications. Now I am broke for the rest of the month! Not really, but it did take my breath away when I got the final bill!

All the dackels are healthy. The two girls are, a little too healthy! Like their Mama Maribeth, they need to be on a strict Weight Watchers program for myself and my girls! Greta has a good 2 pounds to lose and Anneliese is about 1 pound over.

What I am planning is to take the girls on walks once this rain stops. I could use the exercise myself. I’d like to take the girls out in the morning. Walk down and get the mail, and then in the afternoon, take Arnie and Anneliese out for a walk. Fritz doesn’t need to be walked as he is the best boy in the entire world, and runs between our house and our neighbors, but never goes any further. Unfortunately the dackels do, so they need to be walked.

I actually got some spring cleaning done today. Hubby is off training for working on the US Census during the day, and this gives me all kinds of time to clean. What I need now is motivation!

Does anyone out there like to clean?

Sundays

Yesterday I wrote that I’d hoped that my cousin’s picture of me and her dogs came out. I spoke to her today and she forwarded it on to me this afternoon. As you can see, Max and Wolf love their Auntie Maribeth!

You probably can’t tell, but I’m a real dog lover!

I woke at about 1:50 AM Sunday morning. I knew that at 2 AM the time changed and we were due to leap forward an hour. Now, my bedside clock is a satellite clock and I wondered if it would reset itself at 2 AM. I truly wish I were not so inquisitive because I lay there watching the clock until 1:59……3:00 AM!!! I was very impressed and fell back to sleep smiling.

It rained all day on Sunday and yet I needed to go out to the store, because after buying out the grocery shop the other day, I realized I had forgotten celery! Now how could I have done that? So off I went, in the rain to get a bunch.

I drove down town because I wanted to see if the Bob house was still on the ice, had been removed, or fallen through the thin ice. If you guessed that it had fallen through then you would be correct. All that showed was the very top of it that was somehow floating. Our town will need to dredge that area out before The Mount Washington Cruise Ship can come into the town docks.

Hubby still has a cold and I feel like I either have hay fever or a small cold as my nose is pretty stuffy! A feeling I do not like.

I take the dackels in for their yearly shots today. They love the ride over and it’s always nice to see my Vets.

Have a good Monday, everyone!!!

Girls Day!

Saturday was girls day! I met up with my daughter, Mandy and my cousin Janet for a luncheon date and some serious girl chatting! I arrived first at my cousin’s condo and the two of us talked and I snuggled with her two dogs. I got this picture of her Shiba Inu, Wolf.

Wolf and I have a thing going. He loves me and I love him and his soft fur. Janet warned me about how much he sheds, and I was amazed at how much fur he left on my slacks! But I didn’t care. He was really sweet with me. So was Janet’s other dog, Max. Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of him. I hope the one of me with the two dogs that Janet took comes out!

Janet took us to a Great restaurant in Lowell called “Life Alive”.

I had “The Innocent”, a fusion of delectably nutritious flavorings forming a savory sauce for steamed sweet corn, shredded carrots, broccoli and tamari roasted almonds all served over light and protein rich quinoa and short grain brown rice.

Mandy had the same but added some cashews, apples and carrots.

And Janet had “The Goddess”, a nurturing blend of smoked tofu, short grain brown rice, steamed carrots, beets, broccoli, and dark greens surrounded by our zesty Ginger Nama Shoyu dressing.

I also decided to order some tea. I was glancing over their teas when Something caught my eye.

Yerba Mate was recently written about on my friend Betty’s Blog, A Glimpse Into Midlife! Just two days ago she had written about this tea, so I knew I had to try it. It was wonderful and I really enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing the information about Yerba Mate, Betty!!

We ate our lunches and talked the entire time, we sipped our teas and enjoyed each others company. I really think we need to have these “Girls Days” more often. It was so much fun! Here I am with Mandy at the restaurant.

After lunch we went back to Janet’s and had some coffee and dessert. All too soon it was time to say goodbye, and head home. I hugged Mandy and Janet and said my good-byes.

The ride home was something else! It was pouring rain and windy. I drove slowly and carefully, and I made it home in good time. However at one point the wind picked up and blew the car all over the place. It was just a bit scary!

Now I am sitting here with all three dachshunds asleep around me and Fritz at my feet. I am so happy to have such a loving family and loving pets too!

TGIF

The day was gray and drizzly. We managed to get quite a bit done though. After a couple of weeks, where we were too busy to shop, we finally got out to do a full grocery shopping. We had to go to three different shops to get all the things that we needed and we spent a fortune! But with the food that we bought, I think we will be good for a couple of weeks at least.

When we got home I had to put it all away, and bag up some of the meats that we bought before putting them in the freezer. By the time I sat down I felt totally spent.

I managed a nice meal of Swordfish, baked potatoes and spinach for dinner.

Now that the dishes are done I am quite happily sitting with Arnie in my chair, watching “The Bourne Identity”. I did not go to see the “Bourne” movies in the cinema, because I thought it would be a waste of time and money, but I found that I enjoyed them on the TV movie stations.

Saturday finds me getting together with my cousin Janet and my daughter, Mandy. I will take pictures! I’m looking forward to getting out with the girls! We’re going to Janet’s favorite restaurant and I will take lots of pictures!

Meanwhile, Hubby will be home, taking care of the dogs. He is such a good guy!

My Election Story

The great vote is over now, and the town meetings are history. In the past, I have always cast my vote at election time, but this year, I was smack dab in the middle of all the political discourse in our town. Actually, as I stood in the 40 degree (F) weather with a stiff wind, I have to say that with the exception of one candidate, we all got along splendidly! No kidding. We joked, and laughed and talked about our love for our town. I can honestly say that I grew to truly like the people I stood with that day (with the exception of the “Bully”). These terrific people are the reason I love my town. Here is a picture of us as we campaigned. The “Bully” is there, but I will refrain from pointing him out. Just think pretty boy John Edwards.

I got to the Community Center at 6:45 AM that day and set up. I then went inside and cast my ballot. I felt proud to see my name on the ballot, at the same time it was a little surreal. I was Voter # 2 that day. We had a total of 941 people come to vote.

Hubby was a sweetheart. He brought me 2 thermoses of hot coffee, and Holly, one of the candidates went off to get lunch from McDonald’s for us all. I grew to really like her, and we talked almost all afternoon.

I stopped people and told them my name and what I was running for. I always shook their hands. I smiled, but it was an honest smile. I was happy to be there and happy to be running for office.

The other candidates teased me in a nice way, about greeting the voters. I have to admit, by the very end of the day, I almost didn’t know my name or what I was running for.

During the mid day, the sun was out and we all stayed warm, the tough part was the end of the day when the sun had set and the temperatures were falling. Then we all froze.

At 6:55 PM we went inside and waited until they ended the voting. Then we were able to go into the hall and wait for the machines to tabulate the ballots. I sat, thawing and listening to the moderator read the results. He read my name, said I received 905 votes and I felt such a surge of relief and pride!

I said my good-byes to my fellow candidates (The “Bully” was long gone, and he did not win his race either!), I hugged them and we all got in our cars and left.

When I got home I had some hot pot roast that I had thrown in the crock-pot at 6:30 in the morning. It was wonderfully hot and delicious! Hubby popped the cork on the champagne bottle and we celebrated my election!

At 9 PM I was in bed with all the dogs and my day had ended.

************

Today I noted that a “Bob House” on our quickly thawing lake had fallen through. Another one is so close to open water it will probably go in overnight. If you look beyond the one “Bob House” you can see you can just make out the tip of the sinking “Bob House”!

I think we will have an early ice-out on the lake this year.

Random Dozen

So, are you ready to play Plinko?

Definition of plink: “Plinking refers to informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water.” Plinko is also a carnival game we play at Oneighty, but pot-luck shots fits this meme better, I think.

So here are your random plinko questions lined up in a row just like tin cans:

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet? 10 years?

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? No I stopped buying when I joined Weight Watchers.

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to? I would love to learn!

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager? I think so.

5. How many of this year’s Oscar-nominated movies did you see? None. They never get this far up in the woods. However, we are going to see Jeff Bridges movie on Friday.

6. If you’re going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself? Having blood drawn is no problem, but I don’t want to watch myself being stitched up and I didn’t watch the carpal tunnel surgery either.

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why? Sunday. Newspaper, coffee, relaxation!

8. Do you miss anyone right now? Yes. I miss my daughters.

9. Do hospitals make you queasy? No.

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you. Coldwater Creek!

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items? Sometimes. Although I love a good deal.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels? I love eye contact, even if the news is bad. I will always look you straight in your eyes, so be prepared.

OK … ready, aim, PLINK and LINK!

I Won!

After 12 long hours standing in the bitter cold and wind, I am happy to announce that I won my election. The total count was 941 people voting in our town, and from that I got 905. I would like to know, who didn’t vote for me? I know, greedy, right?

I think, for the most part, the elections came out the way I’d hoped. With the exception of one candidate. But you cannot have it all, can you?

So I am home, warming up, but totally exhausted. I’m going to hit the hay early tonight and I will write more about this tomorrow.