Godzilla v. the dogs

The dogs' grandma came to visit and got a splinter in her foot from our eighty year old hardwood floors. So she didn't slide around in her socks and get some more, we loaned her a pair of fabulous slippers and made her the most popular person in the house.

California dreaming

I had a dream last night that I was packing for Surffest, my yearly summer vacation. I had finally come to my senses and packed really lightly, since I always end up wearing the same three things the entire time I'm out there. If I remember, I'll actually pack that way this coming year.

God I love Manhattan Beach. Southern California in general. Hot. Sunny. Sand. Beautiful people everywhere. Good food. An outdoor lifestyle. What I wouldn't give to live out there, smog, traffic, high prices and all.

Circus music makes me want to kill people

For work, our foundation is hosting a black tie event with a circus theme. I was asked to find some circus music to go along with the theme.

A quick check of the library turned up two CDs, one of which is still on reserve, but last night, I picked up Circus Music From the Big Top by the Merle Evans Circus Band.

You know what I found out? Listening to circus music makes me homicidal.

I only have a vague memory of attending a circus as a child, and as far as I can recall, nothing bad happened there. I am morally opposed to circuses for the way they treat animals, but I don't think it's that. I'm not particuarly fond of clowns, but I don't think it's that either. I think it's that the music is just so unrelentingly cheerful.

I'm not overly enamored of excessive cheeriness. Not sure why. People who are too cheery irritate the hell out of me. Probably just because I'm not a nice person. And I'm fine with that.

But I probably shouldn't make a habit of listening to circus music, just in case it sends me over the edge. Wouldn't want to have to update this blog from prison.

It's like a little soap opera

ramblings of pvcdiva

9 degrees

You can add cold weather, snow, and being snuck up on with a camera to the list of things Kaylee hates.

Ice Storm 2004!

Our power's out (I'm at work for a few hours) and Jeff's at home, trying to keep Spike warm. We're probably going to have to go to his parents' house if we don't get power back by this afternoon.

The a branch from the big oak in our back yard is already partially cracked and on our phone line and our neighbor's power line. Not much we can do about it, though. We're just going to have to hope it breaks off the right way and falls toward the tree rather than straight down.

Another neighbor's tree is blocking all but one lane of the 4-lane road we live on. The weight of the ice just bore it down the hill and onto the street. Luckily, but buses still managed to run around it and I actually got to work on time. And since we're under a snow emergency, the buses are free. Bonus!

Update: Here's a photo:


Five minues later, the firefighters arrived to chop it down. They worked fast...


We packed up the pets and spent the afternoon at the in-laws where Kaylee peed on the rug the moment she got in the door. Such a charmer. I don't think my father-in-law was at all pleased. They all behaved themselves after that. Spike was very, very good.

I came home to check on the house at 4:00 and the neighbor said the power had come on an hour before. We decided to risk coming home, even though the power may go off again.

I'm dreaming of ...

... sunshine and palm trees, actually, but what I get instead is this:



The first big storm of the season and everyone's in a tizzy.

My big concern is getting Kaylee and Indy to go outside in it. And getting Cordy to come in out of it.

Yum...

I brought honey walnut caramels into work today and have become a very popular person. It's just past noon, and they're already gone. And that's with competition from some Krema nuts and a giant tray of cookies that our caterer sent over.

No wonder we all gain weight over the holidays here. We had three days of catered lunch leftovers last week, and vendors keep sending us cookies, candy and popcorn.

So why did I bother to bring in the candy that I'd slaved over for Christmas? I just couldn't stand having it in the house anymore. It was in the freezer in the basement, but I just couldn't stop thinking about it. I'll make more to share, but I'm not going to do it until Christmas Eve day so it's in the house for the shortest period of time. Hell, I ate 5 peices just putting it into the tin to bring to work!

Bet I know what my new year's resolution will be...

Chillin'

Jeff and Indy watching the tube.

The secret lives of words

The scent of my new shampoo and conditioner is "Gushing Springs." "Gushing" is one of those words that just sounds dirty, but it isn't. Like kumquat or pedometer.

And what do gushing springs smell like? Vaguely of watermelons, but not so sweet. Who knew?

Also this morning, I had An Idea while in the shower - where I often do (or taking a walk, or in the grocery line or anywhere else it's inconvienient to write stuff down) - but this time, I would not be thwarted. I dashed around the drafty upstairs, looking for a pen and paper (where did the set go in my nightstand?!), freezing my soaking wet ass off. But I got it written down, dammit.

On the back of an envelope.

In eyeliner.

But The Idea didn't get away, as they too often do.

Ha!

Candied Cranberries

2 to 3 cups cranberries, cleaned & picked over
1 cup sugar + 2 cups for rolling
1 cup water

Put 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water into medium pan and heat on medium, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil.

Dump cranberries into pot, stir quickly, and remove from heat.

Let sit for 20 minutes & put remaining sugar in shallow bowl.

Drain cranberries, then, a few at a time, roll in the sugar. Allow to dry for 1-2 hours, then store in fridge.

Enjoy!

Pretend it's Friday

Got too caught up in the rush of holiday baking (coconut macaroons) to post. But here are the girls watching someone get off the bus.



Now I have to go. Kaylee has thrown up. Ah, the joys of doggie acid reflux. Why does she always want to kiss me afterwards?

Comment cookies

I'm now used to not getting an actual fortune in my fortune cookie. In fact, I tend to call them homily cookies, since the fortune has devolved into a bland platitude.

But today, my cookie went one worse: it just had kind of a comment. Maybe it's a bad translation of an actual Chinese homily, but if so, it doesn't translate at all well. What did it have to say? This:

A modest man never talks to himself.

Uh. OK. Sure. And a vain man is way chatty.

Hey, I know someone like that. So maybe there's something to this after all. :)

Productivity

So, this is my second try. My first long, witty blog entry got erased. So don't blame me if it's boring. Blame Netscape.

It's not yet 4:00 p.m., but I've had one hell of a busy day.

I got the errands done by 10:15 this morning; took Indy to Bark Park, where he had a fabulous time and even went into a pond for the very first time (though he did spend an inordinately large amount of time trying to figure out how to jump the electrified fence); swiped some holiday rugs from the mother in law to brighten up the house (and Indy got to play with his 6 month old human cousin Eve, whom he loves); then we came home and I made two kinds of candy for holiday gift-giving. Jeff even finally got the bulbs in the ground so that there's the possibility of having some color in the front yard come spring.

Now, we're desperately trying to finish watching the horrible movie Van Helsing. We got it on pay per view and I'm not going to waste money. But my god. This is some impressive suckitude. Why does Dracula have Oompa-Loompas?

Off now to make some more candy. The best recipes I've gotten this year are from Who Wants Candy? So if you like any of the stuff I make, go check it out from the library to make it for yourself, or buy it for me so I can make the candy again. :)

Photo shoot

The shoot for the holiday dog photo did not go smoothly. Little Miss Diva Kaylee objected to her role as elf and wanted to be Santa. Cordy wanted to not be choked. And Indy just wanted some chicken.

Busy busy!

I haven't been keeping this as up-to-date as I like, but I've been getting a huge jumpstart on the holidays instead (and work has been way too busy to skive off there too much).

But I've gotten all the holiday shopping done, two parcels are ready to go out tomorrow, Jeff's presents are wrapped (so he can go into the guest bedroom again), cards are mailed, and about half of the sweets are made. The dog photo shoot was last night ... look for a photo from that tomorrow... :)

Still have to put up the trees (several little ones - Kaylee would knock over a big one while playing) and the decorations. Then there's just the rest of the cookies and candy and making a few little gifts. It's nice to have the bulk of it out of the way already!