Life with the Three Crazy Dogs

- Blogging on my life events & whatever that comes to my mind!

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Monthly Archives: December 2009

Post Christmas

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Hello peeps, hope you all had a good Christmas with your love ones and friends.  I know I had a good one, a very memorable one.  Hubby didn’t come back which I have already expected.  So I wasn’t disappointed at all that he was not here.  I was prepared.

I spent my Christmas eve morning digging myself out of the house in the morning.  We had about 7.5 inches of snow.  Shoveled the driveway with the help of the neighbor’s kid doing the end of the driveway with his dad’s kick ass snow blower.  Boy, was I tired after that.  Took about an hour plus nap after that!  By the way, the big boss gave me Christmas eve off coz he said the weather was going to be crappy.  Sweet big boss, always liked him as my boss.  (He was my boss when I first started in with the company.)

That evening I was at my RCIA sponsor’s home for eve dinner with her family.  It was just beautiful.  My first eve dinner with somebody who is not family.   We opened presents and the best one saw was sponsor’s son received a Symbol LS2208 barcode scanner for his side business he operates at home. That was really sweet to see his face light up! So precious!

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My driveway taken on Christmas eve

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Neighbor across Christmas eve party

Christmas day I got up early to take care of the boys and my sister’s FB CafeWorld :( and also took some winter backyard scene before going back to bed.
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Our backyard

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Neighbor’s backyard

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Front door

Was sleeping through all the text messages sent to me but was waken up by the doorbell at 11:15 a.m.!  Was sleeping for 4+ hours.  The neighbor wife across and her daughter handed me a bag of goodies (cookies galore) and I saw her hubby, her son and the other neighbor doing my driveway.  The Christmas spirit!!!  I was surprise to see them on my driveway.  There was shit load of snow, probably another half a foot or more with drifts, too.

In the afternoon I drove over to another church member’s home for dinner with other members there too.  I didn’t want to go initially, mainly being lazy.  The weather was actually very nice.  The temp was 36 degrees Fahrenheit.  Snow was melting, roads were wet, slushy.  Whatever snow that’s on the driveway are heart attack type of snow – they are wet and damn heavy.

Christmas dinner was with great company.  Wonderful food and chat.

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2009 Christmas gifts

  1. Cat bag from the neighbor: Cookies and more cookies
  2. Red furry snow flake bag from church member. I took the gifts out: Nativity scene candy container and mixed nut bread.
  3. White and red snuggy socks from RCIA sponsor
  4. Card and Honey Bake Ham gift certificate of $50 from big boss
Filed under Holidays, In the new world, Personal, Product, Writing
Dec 28, 2009

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It is amazing how my MIL have the health of a young woman, per her doctor! My hubby confirmed the results too. Though she has Medicare she has supplement insurance for additional coverage. It helped cover the medical bills when she had her hip surgery back in June. I told hubs if he will have his mom’s long life genes where the grandmother passed away at age of 98 and the great grandmother at 99 and a day. I wonder MIL’s life insurance is a no exam life insurance for her good health, albeit all the drinking and smoking.

Filed under Product, Writing
Dec 28, 2009

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A few more days, 2009 will be history. 2009 is definitely a happening year for me. I’m just glad that I still have good health….like I used to complained about all things that are not happening according to my likes and dislikes. Complained day in day out, being greedy and so forth. Terrible aint it? I’m lucky I don’t need additional health insurance like how my former coworker has,  NC short term health insurance. I’ts no fun being the sole bread winner with crappy medical benefits from the employer which I’m glad I have good benefits from my employer.   Everything happens for a reason but one can sure work around with whatever happened.  Hard lesson to learn but I’m learning.

Filed under Product, Writing
Dec 28, 2009

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Christmas is just three days away.  How time flies. 

This year will just be me, myself, I and the three dogs. 

DB is staying in TX.  I asked if his mom and family are all prepped for Christmas.  He said the only thing they did for preparation was setting the tree up but no decorations nor presents bought.  Apparently, they are bogged down with the business, the sports bar.  Looks like things at the bar is doing better now.  Customers, staff and especially the mother praise DB for a job well done in managing it.  It just kills me to know why someone wants to take over a business when he/she has no idea nor the experience to run it.  All the stories I hear from DB on how they were running the business before DB had to change the style of management was super ridiculous!  DB said some of them are dumb as a post!  Honestly I think they were stupid too. 

Christmas eve a snow storm predition….yeah!  Fresh snow for Christmas!  On the eve I will be going for dinner at my sponsor’s home.  I really have to see how bad the condition is.  Hopefully it’s not too bad.   I might also go for midnight mass, but that too depends on whether I’m still awake!

Christmas day another church member invited me to their house.  It’s just them couple and they wanted me to be there to hang out.   I will give them a buzz though if I’m going. 

I’m off till Dec 30th.  I wanted to take the 31st off too but everyone in my department is off.  I have to be there.  My initial thought was to carry my remaining 37 hours over to next year but…..I really need to take the days off if not I will cry!!!  Get the drift?

Will spend the days doing some cleaning and catching up on movies.  Heaven!

Filed under Holidays, Personal
Dec 22, 2009

No more dogs

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Couple of years ago DB and I have thoughts of getting another puppy, but I shoved it off.  The two big boys are more than enough for me to walk, bathe and split my attention-giving for them and then came along Chase, the pup, another Labrador Retriever.

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I actually wanted a different breed if I want another dog.  If I want another puppy I would check out other dog breeds besides Labrador Retrievers. Labs are great dogs, and they are high maintenance dogs. I love all kinds of breeds.  My initially choice of a dog is a German Shepard.   I guess it was because I was always by myself then, and the thought of a big, fierce looking dog will scare any intruders off!  

There is a couple, the Mays, in my neighborhood had a German Shepard whom I dog sat a few times as favors.  They named him Dusty, very handsome dog with shiny coat of hair.  Dusty is now in doggie heaven, but I have to say he was the most well behaved dog I have ever encountered. He obeys all voice and hand commands so well, obedience was thumbs up for him. Bathing and drying him was so easy, and it could be because he was an older dog, he was around 6 years old when he was adopted by the couple.  When I went over to their house to dog-sit, he would stand still for me to dry him from coming in from the rain, no fuss at all. All I can say now is Dusty was a very loved dog. At his age, he was still very playful – loves to play fetch and enjoyed all his walks. Fetching tennis balls were his favorite.  The Mays maintained his weight so he wouldn’t be overweight. German Shepards should not be overweight and they are very active in nature.  They need lots of exercise and like any other large breed dogs, German Shepards need their daily exercise.  When trained from a pup, German Shepards will enjoy their exercising time tossed a tennis ball and Dusty would run for it for hours. That was one of the ways he stayed so slim and maintained the muscles that made him looked so fit and trim.  

Moreover, Dusty loves his daily brushing.  I wish my three dogs would sit obediently when I brush them.   German Shepards shed a lot too.  This breed has a very thick medium length coat.  They have an undercoat as well and with the help of daily brushing, I notice Dusty’s coat does not shed much.

Dusty was a dog who loves his obedience.  He will work for you.  Whatever you command to do, he will happily do it, tail all wagging.  German Shepards are known to do extremely well in obedience training provided it is done early on in the dogs’ life.

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Caring for the German Shepard puppy is the same as caring for all other puppies. Patience and consistency are the keys to successful training them. Initially they will be at a lost when they set paws in your home, but once they get their surroundings checked, they will start looking towards you for everything from food, play/walk, bathroom, and attention. The Mays has 2 grand kids she baby sits in their house, Dusty did so well with them too.  He would  walk along side the kids when they are out playing in the yard.  German Shepards are very faithful, protective, they will protect its owner/family from harms way.  

 *Pictures source from DogChannel.com*

Filed under Pets, Product, Writing
Dec 22, 2009

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Last weekend Nadine called me up if I want to accompany her for her Christmas shopping. Her family from Russia will be here for the holidays, arriving next week. So her being the scatter brain, totally forgot about presents for her youngest sister, a horse lover. Anything to do with horses, she is up for it. Me tagging along to the equestrian store, shopping for breeches for her little sister. Equestrian equipment, clothings are not cheap. Nadine definitely crossed off a few items on her list just in that little store.  From there we went to our local mall.. I was so tempted to get a few turtle neck sweaters but held back knowing how much I just spent on fixing the car!   Of course Nad continued with her shopping spree…sure is nice to have that extra cash to shop like her!

Filed under Product, Writing
Dec 16, 2009

New health insurance cards

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Finally I received my new 2010 health insurance cards (mine and DB), however, after checking them over three times, the group number is wrong and saw that they mis-spelled my name. Apparently these folks already knew about their mistake on the incorrect group number but not my name. So I still have return the damn cards to them for new ones. If it’s just the group number, I can cut up the card and toss them. Cilaka betul! Anyways for next year’s health savings account I have jacked up the amount to cover all the prescription drug fees DB will be paying for. I really regretted I set a very low amount for this year’s.  I actually exceeded the amount I put on my claim.  If we exceeded next year’s amount, I will be damn!  That man needs to do something then! :)

Filed under Personal, Product, Writing
Dec 11, 2009

Still waiting for bank approval

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Showings for the house are over, finito, PA signed and submitted to the bank for approval. When will the stupid bank ever call to make an appointment to look at the house is beyond me. I guess I’m just very anxious to get rid of this house. I did not winterize the house this winter. The windows are so drafty it’s no joke. But then it’s good I didn’t do anything to prevent the draftiness, per my realtor. She said then the bank will agree to the buyer’s price based on the condition of the house. Yeah, there are a lot of fixings needed in the house: one of the outside lighting fixture is toast or it could be two; windows are collecting moisture, a good place for mildew; new carpets, roofing and the laundry list goes on.   The realtor told me the bank might not get to our paperwork till beginning of next year or later.  And this is one of the reason I slacking in packing…I still have crap all over my work room although I have boxes brought home, I’m just not in the mood to do pack.   Although I have got rid of a lot of my novels, magazines and textbooks, I still have 3 more shelves of books to pack to Half Price store to sell.  I don’t get a lot of money back but it’s better having them sitting in boxes.  Sending them to the bookstore, they can recycle them books/magazines for me.  For now, all I can do is just wait…wait till my neck grows long!

Filed under Product, Writing
Dec 11, 2009

Love snow day, sorta

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It was a snow day for me yesterday. Boss lady called me in the morning to stay home and so I happily did and finally had a chance to watch a movie.

The picture below was taken around noon, minutes before I went out to clean the driveway.

1st significant snowfall for Dec2009

I reckon there was 7 inches of snow on my driveway. Shovelled my way out of the drifting snow at the top of the driveway. It didn’t help to have a crappy shovel either. My favorite shovel is missing a screw at the bottom and it totally sucks. So I was switching in between the ergonomic type shovel (supposely better for the back) that to me is useless. Hated it.  The city snow plows came through and packed the end of the driveway.

The neighbor across came over with his snow blower when he was done with his driveway.  I was still shovelling the upper 1/4, he started to work the 1/4 end of the driveway.  He said it’s way too much snow to be shovelling and his snow blower does not do well with packed snow.  Less than 5 minutes of him helping, he had to get back to his house since the COIT (carpet and upholstery cleaners) guys came.  He left the snow blower runing and asked if I know how to use it.  Hell no!  He sort of told me what to do, and so I took over where he stopped.  My ever first time using a snow blower.  It took all of my energy for the day to get 3/4 of the driveway cleared up.  It would be easier if the driveway is not so hilly.  Keeping my balance and pushing/controller that sucker was a bitch!!!  Plus the wind was blowing like frigging crazy yesterday.  I don’t even know what the temp was when i was out there, 15F (-9C), I think, and windchill must minus something.  I know I was sweating crazy and my face was stinging!

When I was towards the end of the snow packed driveway, the blower died!  Darn, it’s either out of gas or I screwed it up.  So I turned it off, left it there and used the shovel.  I was glad I was able to clear up the rest of the driveway, but was I tired, very very tired…my shoulders and back are calling out in desperation for a rest.  I wanted to but then I saw that much left to do, I continued.  So I kept digging and finally the COIT guys left, the neighbor came back and I telling him his snowblower died.  He was ok with it, he dragged it back to his garage and came back with his shovel.   It definitely makes a big difference having a man shovel snow and a teeny weeny pruney like me working with the shovel.  He got so much done so fast.  I thank him a million times for his help.  This was not the first time he helped me with the driveway.  He definitely “Love thy neighbor”!

After the clean up of the driveway and front entrance, went out to the patio to clear the snow by the patio door and entrance and also made a path so the boys won’t come trudging back in with snow.  With all these clean up, I still the boys out for their walks: Ranger a short little 20 minutes for him.  The other two Cs I took them to the trails by our house.  That’s the walks they are going to get for the rest of this week.  The high for today is 7F (-13C) and Friday is not getting any better.  So I’m just going to rest my poor achy body and stuff myself with carbs!  I’m constantly hungry since yesterday’s workout.

So much for a snow day of wanting to do nothing but relax!!!!! :(   DB said he is feeling super duper rotten and he better be! :)

Filed under MN Weather, Personal, Winter
Dec 10, 2009

The ABCs

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Here are the ABCs I finally stitched up since I saw them on Aida’s blog. Great idea, Aida.

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And, of course, this little bugger has to come bug me when I was laying these alphabets on the floor….gave him a good yelling to stop messing them up!  It looks like I’m forcing him to learn his ABCs!!!

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This is another shot where Ranger showed up to join the “class”! :) Both of them look so depressing!!! but I think it’s too damn cute.

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I used whatever scraps I have left in the scrap box of fabric I have…a lot of them. I got some batting for the middle and terry cloth for the bottom. I bought just a small yardage of terry cloth and I should have wash that darn cloth before cutting or doing anything with it. Terry cloth “sheds” so much – the fuzz were everywhere. I should have just used one of the old towels in the linen closet! But anyhoo, it turned out well.

Filed under Personal, Sewing projects
Dec 8, 2009

Cyber Monday shopping

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Cyber Monday came and gone. There were tons of emails sent to me for this internet shopping deal. Did I buy anything to utilize the nice deals? I did and thank goodness it was not much. Just some skincare stuff that I’m running low anyways, so I can justify the buying!!! But when I spoke to Nadine, which I know she would go hog wild on her online shopping, I almost got a shocker. Mark, her hubby bought a new HD TV for the kitchen…there is one sitting on the kitchen counter after they moved in 2 years ago. And he bought a newer one! On top of that she bought a different lcd monitor for her home office. I really do feel envious for all the gadgets them two can afford. But I shouldn’t be envious…I should be happy for them, yeah, it’s not easy to feel that way though…afterall I’m still human! :)

Filed under Personal, Product, Writing
Dec 2, 2009

 

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