I know I’ve been gone an awfully long time, and I have no excuse other than the “I’m feeling really lazy” one.  Anyway, I intend to catch everyone up shortly — even though it probably won’t be very interesting at all.

I’m glad to be back.  And I’ll be visiting everyone soon enough.

This message is brought to you by the one and only, Allison’s wonderful, svelte, debonair, suave, sophisticated, and all-around-nice-guy, big brother.  Serge.

My wacky sister managed to kill her computer through much abuse, and is now paying the price for a new one.  I have been instructed to let everyone know that she is not ignoring anyone and will be back on the scene shortly.

Thank you,

Serge.

It was a cool but beautiful day when Nibbles arrived in our fair town of Melissa, Texas.  We were a bit late getting to the post office, and when we got there, we found Nibbles patiently waiting on us.

The first thing he did upon arrival was meet our new real buddy Koko.  She’s a long-haired Chihuahua that was given to us (more about Koko later).  Koko loved Nibbles and Nibbles loved Koko.

We asked Nibbles if there was anything special she wanted to do while visiting us, and right away she let us know with a great deal of exuberance, that she wanted to go sight seeing.  We warned her there wasn’t much to see in Melissa, but Nibbles insisted.  So, we took her to see the Fire Station, and the local park.  That about summed up the town sights; but Nibbles fell in love with the park, so that was lucky for us.  Here she is sliding down the BIG slide:

And she absolutely loved climbing atop Big Foot the green dragon.

Then, she spotted the Basketball courts and threw a hissy fit because I wouldn’t play her a game of HORSE.  So… the husband initiated a game of one on one and that appeased Nibbles.

Then, Nibbles spotted the cars and promptly hopped into one and away she went!  We screamed and hollered for her to come back, “Come back Nibbles!  Nibbles, come back!”  on account she didn’t have a license and all, but she wouldn’t listen.  She just stepped on the accelerator and faster she went!

We got tired of waiting for her to come back, so we gave up and decided to go on home and hoped Nibbles would be able to find her way back.  A short while later, Tom (one of our three police officers) showed up on our driveway with errant Nibbles in tow:

He gave her a citation for driving without a license and gave us a severe scolding for allowing her to drive without a license.  What ever!

And that was the end of Nibbles’ Adventure in Melissa Land.  The End.

It’s been days since dear little Philip left us, and we sorely miss him.

The guest bedroom has been spiffied up, refreshed and is ready and awaiting our next visitor, but alas… we haven’t seen hide nor hair of him as yet.  Maybe he got side-tracked along the way?  Or heaven forbid — kidnapped!  Highjacked!  Oooooh. 

But we’re still keeping our eyes peeled for Mrs. Dransen… our mail lady.  She’s been looking for our visitors, too.  Isn’t that sweet of her?

OK, it was raining when Philip arrived in Texas, and it was raining when Philip left.  Needless to say, our outdoor activities were curtailed to the point where Philip was going nuts being cooped up inside the house.  It took every ounce of energy to keep up with the little fellow, because he just simply would not sit still! 

From the moment Philip arrived, he wanted to be and act like a real Texan.  So we loaned him our hat and our gun.

Like I said, we were cooped up inside the house because of the rain, but the little fellow just kept watching outside and the minute the rain let up for a second, he dashed outside and flew/ran right up a tree.

He said he could view things from up there that we couldn’t from the ground.  So I relented and let him stay up there for a few minutes.  Then, he spotted something way out at the back of the yard and off he went.  He found Myrtle!

And Lilith!

And Alex!  Although Alex wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about a teeny tiny pink flamingo for a friend…

Right after, Philip discovered a few of Zee’s toys lying about and of course, he just had to try them out.  He zipped around the house fast enough to get a speeding ticket

And he slid down the banister enough times that I seriously considered spraying furniture wax on his little butt.

Finally, the time came for Philip to leave, and the husband, cheap as always, was actually going to charge Philip for his stay!  Here they are trying to work out the costs involved.

Don’t worry.  I was able to talk the husband out of charging Philip for his stay.  Shame on the husband!  Anyway, it was time for Philip to leave, so we all drove him down to the local UPS place where he stoically boarded his little box and away he went to New York.  Sob.  I’m going to miss that little feller!

I need a little bit of help getting my photos from the camera to the computer (it’s a new computer and I don’t have things wired yet).  So, if you’ll be just a teeny bit more patient, I’ll have photos of Philip’s adventures tomorrow.  It’s still raining, and it’s still cold, so our adventures were for the most part indoors, but they were adventures nontheless.

Can hardly wait to have more visitors!

Philip arrived safe and sound yesterday.  I found him on my doorstep huddled in his little pink blanket because it was so cold and wet outside.

Unfortunately, Philip and I have been housebound because we’re currently experiencing thunderstorms and high winds (which makes it a tad impossible to go outside and play).  At least this is what I’ve been trying to tell Philip but all he does is eye the wonderful yard toys and sigh.  I know he wants outside.  I know he deserves to play on Zee’s trike and swingset, and such, but it’s wet out!  I keep trying to tell Philip mud is no good.  But he seems determined to play in it.  I’ve had to keep a VERY close eye on him for fear that he’ll slip outside when I’m not watching.

I’ve tried to no avail to sit with him and read quietly.  I even built a fire so we could snuggle — but no dice.  Guess I’ll have to get out the umbrella and raincoat today because Philip’s flight is scheduled to leave tomorrow morning.

I think I’ll keep you amused while I’m waiting.  I’ll tell you about this guy I’m sure we’ve all run across.

Mujibar was trying to get a job in India. 

The Personnel Manager said, ‘Mujibar, you have passed all the tests, except one. Unless you pass it, you cannot qualify for this job.’

Mujibar said, ‘I am ready.’

The manager said, ‘Make a sentence using the words Yellow, Pink and Green.’

Mujibar thought for a few minutes and said, ‘Mister manager, I am ready’

The manager said, ‘Go ahead.’

Mujibar said, ‘The telephone goes green, green, and I pink it up, and say, ‘Yellow‘, this is Mujibar.’

Mujibar now works at a call center.

No doubt you have spoken to him. I know I have. 

Yesterday was a really bad day for me.

First, I had trouble getting out of bed.

Then, I had a stiff neck.

I washed my hair and then couldn’t do a thing with it!

I felt hung over and I wasn’t even drinking last night, dammit!

My new diet doesn’t seem to be working out.

Later, when I tried to exercise, I pulled a muscle.

Making matters worse, that new hat I bought — looked a whole lot better in the store.

I kept losing things.

The boss just had to chew on me at work.

Lunchtime came and I got caught in the rain.

Then, the lunch I ate didn’t agree with me at all!

I felt really trapped, you know?

The last straw was having uninvited guests show up for dinner.

And…to top it all off, I think I’m coming down with the flu.

Finally alone at night, I hear a noise down in the basement!

Maybe tomorrow will be better….Sigh.

Thought for the day:

Handle every stressful situation like a dog.
If you can’t eat it or play with it,
just pee on it and walk away.

This has been a really shitty week for me, and I really need to vent my frustration, so this will probably be a long and semi-boring post.  Sorry.

Sunday morning I went to get in my car and it wouldn’t start.  I have a Jeep Grand Cherokee (2001).  The husband thought it was the battery, so he goes out and buys a new one, sticks it in the car and everything works just fine.  I’m happy.

Monday morning I had a doctor’s appointment.  Again, the car is dead.  When the husband gets home in the evening, he tries jumping it and it won’t take a jump, so he runs out and buys a battery charger — we let the battery charge over night.

Tuesday morning, the husband sticks the charged battery in the car and nothing.  So we’re now thinking maybe it’s the alterntor or a short somewhere is causing the battery to drain.  It could happen.  I’m hoping fixing it will be expensive, as in over $500.  Secretly, I’m hoping the car is dying for good.  As in no longer available or suitable for driving, because that’s the only fucking way I’m ever going to get a new car.  My husgband believes we should squeeze every last penny out of vehicles.  So… no death, no new car.

Anyway, to make a loooong story shorter, we buy yet another battery and drive the damn Jeep to the car fixing place and leave it there for them to deal with.

Wednesday, I’m without a car, it’s Ash Wednesday and must get to mass for my ashes.  That’s what a good Catholic should do, so that was my plan.  The only mass available to me was the 7:30 p.m. one since my husband doesn’t get home from work until 6:30 or so, and he was the only one with a vehicle.  Bummer.

Okay, so it’s 6:15 p.m., the husband shows up and he’s cussing up a blue streak.  HIS car is dead.  Something about a blown gasket and he wasn’t dishing out money to fix it.  That’s it for the Saturn.  Dead.  Get a new car.  Meanwhile, we have mass to attend.  I call up the DQ and ask her to take us, and she does.  Not only does she agree to go with us, she brings a friend.  We get to mass, and lo and behold it is full, I mean standing room only and everyone in the place is Mexican.  Everyone.

Guess what?  The 7:30 mass is the Spanish one.  Shit.  So the daughter and husband are really upset with me.  The friend is looking at me like I’m a friggin’ idiot.  I’m angry with myself for not checking before coming.  So we sit through the mass, and I’m dumbfounded because I’m fluent in Spanish; however, I cannot understand a single word that is being said.  Now, some folk may think that Spanish is Spanish, but let me tell you… it ISN’T.  Mexicans speak with a lilt and inflection all their own, running words together and sometimes using slang or words that mean totally different to me (in the Spanish I was taught, which is Castillian).  My Grandmother was from Cordova, Spain.  OK, we suffer through mass only to discover there are no ashes being dispensed at this mass.  Need I go on?

On the way home the husband informs me that he’s buying a Honda Civic because those get the best gas mileage.  At this point, I’ve had just about fucking enough and I rip into him.  Because….

1.  A Honda Civic means he will continue to use my Jeep for Schutzhund, hauling men stuff around, and going hunting.
2. I will continue to have man smell in my car, and dog hair.
3. He will keep piling on the miles on my poor vehicle that at this point has 200,000 miles on it (because of HIM). 

The husband promised me… he PROMISED me, that when it came time to buy a new car for him, he would get an SUV so that he can do the things he does and leave my vehicle alone.  But hell no.  He’s going to buy a tiny thing of a car and continue to abuse mine.

This morning, Thursday, he takes off work and we go car shopping.  Guess what he buys?  This:

I was totally floored.  All that arguing last night for nothing.  But now I’m a happy camper, and the husband can continue sleeping in my bed.

But wait… I’m not through ranting.

I’ve decided that I want to take the DQ and the grandson on a road trip to Disney World.  See originally I was going to go with the husband because he had one of those Special Ops conferences in Orlando, but that’s been cancelled.  So I thought of the road trip.  I mean just because he can’t go doesn’t mean I have to suffer, right?  So the DQ and I plan the trip and then I tell him about it.  What does he say?  “Sure.  Sounds fine to me, except, who’s going to take care of the dogs during the day?”

Excuse me?  The dogs don’t need babysitting?  Hello?  He just doesn’t want me to do anything, I guess.  No new car, no road trip, no new puppy right this minute…

I’m too tired to argue the point this week, but you just wait till next week when I’ve caught my breath and am ready for round two.  I am SO shopping for a new puppy and checking hotel and Disney World package prices.