Fireplace works!

So, my fireplace hasn't worked all winter long! And this wasn't the winter for the fireplace not to work!!!

So, today when the Heating and Air guy was here doing the annual maintenance, I had him take a quick look, and neither one of us knows what happened, some wires got jiggled (by the way, "jiggled" is a very technical term), and low and behold, the fireplace is back on! YIPPEE!!!

So, Gemini is thoroughly enjoying it!!!

Confession time...

I hate housework! I know, who doesn't? Well, I have successfully avoided the big "spring cleaning" and the big "fall cleaning" for a couple of years now. And lately, I've been barely keeping up with the weekly maintenance cleaning. Unfortunately, the budget has zero room for a maid. I'm a CPA, I've tried to be really creative with the budget and there is NO room.

So, my lazy butt came up with an idea. I will bring my mother down here for a while to do my spring cleaning. I made the offer to her, to buy the plane ticket, feed her, and buy all her smokes. (And that can get expensive, especially now-a-days!). So, she accepted the offer. Then, I made the list of things that need to be done and read her the list, giving her a chance to back out. She started to add to the list!

So, my mother is coming in a few weeks to stay for a month to do my spring cleaning.

Our latest conversations go like this:

Me: I'll leave you a list of chores each day when I leave for work.
Mom: That sounds like what I used to do with you when you were a kid.
Me: Yup! It's coming back to haunt you isn't it.
Mom: I'm your mother!
Me: Remember learning about endentured servents in the early days of America? Well, you will have to earn your passage back home.
Mom: I'm your mother! Not your employee!

Seriously, I've been teasing her a lot, and we have the type of relationship that we can do this and it's no harm, no foul.

A conversation with a family friend went like this:

Friend: What are you and your mom going to do when she is there?
Me: I'm going to work and she is going to clean.
Friend: Where are you going to take her, on weekends and such?
Me: She will be working on weekends, that's the only times I'll be home to do the heavy lifting for her.
Friend: At least she can go on your patio to see sunlight.
Me: When she is done with her daily chores.

The friend knew I was joking. I actually have some fun things planned for mom, but this teasing has been so much fun for me. Yes, I plan on taking her to the Aquarium and the the Coke Museum, two places she has wanted to go since I've lived her but we haven't made it to yet.

And if she finishes all her chores, I'll take her to a Braves game!

Catherine the Great

Family rumors swirled around years ago that my great-grandmother had documents that proved somehow my Mother's Father's side of my family could trace our family back to Catherine the Great. My mother and her cousin recently reconnected and the rumor has resurfaced.

I have no idea if it is true of not, but I told my mother that I have always thought I was a Princess. Yes, she laughed, so feel free to do so also.

Anyways, as you may know, in the history of greyhounds, once upon a time, only royalty was allowed to own them. I purchased a book for Mom on Catherine the Great for her birthday and low and behold, there was a reproduction of a portrait of Catherine walking her favorite greyhound!!! (Maybe I was Catherine the Great in a former life LOL)

Some distant cousin is researching the family lineage, but after this tax season, I, too, plan on doing some research. I want to be a princess!!!

Now, I need to get back to finding my tiara.........

As Murphy Brown once said.....

"I am an only child and never learned to share."

This is a phrase I often jokingly say. Gemini may have picked up on my attitude lately. He was an only dog for well over a year, then there was a parade of fosters, and now Heater has been with us since July.

There are two well-sized dog beds in the living room, usually one dog per bed and everyone is happy.

Well, the other night....

This left Heater laying somewhere else, but Gemini was happy! Spoiled Brat! He may be taking after his mother more that I care to admit!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Just a few hours left until we say goodbye to 2008 and we ring in 2009. Anyone have any big plans?

How about New Years Resolutions???

I typically don't make resolutions. New Years Resolutions fall flat by mid-January anyways, but this year I'm going to try again. I'm not going to make the typical lose weight, quit smoking, blah blah blah, resolutions.

I know I want to blog more. As you can tell, I have neglected blogging for a while. I'm not sure anyone will even read this. I've been in a funk lately, then the holidays came on so quickly and I was busy. I know, just excuses. But, I'm back, and I'm blogging now, and I intend on blogging more often!

I want to make some changes in my life. I'm not sure what they are, but I know I need to do something different. Might be something small, might be something big, I'm not sure yet. I just know something isn't right because things are as they should be. So, things need to change. When I figure it all out, I will let you know. Vague resolution, but it is a start. For those that know me well, they know something has been amiss for a while, I'm trying to figure it all out guys!

I want to train the muttniks better. Heater has regressed a bit on the separation anxiety. Probably with all the holidays and I'm home a bit more, so that need some more work. And all dogs just need more training.

That's it! What are your resolutions for 2009?

Gemini says have a Happy New Year and here's to a short recovery from all the drinking!

MONEY MONEY MONEY!!!

If money was no object, what would I do?

1. I've been reading everyone else's memes on this and the running theme is obviously the greyhounds and SEGA. Which is no surprise being that I read the SEGA blog ring! So, SEGA gets a chunk of money!

2. I would build a nice house so I would be comfortable, my current animals would be comfortable and the future animals would be comfortable. The house would be on a huge amount of land, and I would have a stupid amount of fun decorating it! It would have everything I've ever wanted in a house. And since the holidays are coming up - I would want a double oven! The kitchen would be huge! The master bedroom would have a sitting room off to the side that would be actually be the dog's bedroom. And of course I would have a maid to clean the house and the litter box!

3. I would have a condo on a beach, one in New York and one in Vegas. That's just a start, maybe add more as I travel.

4. Of course, I will take care of my family and friends. But, being a CPA, I will do it in such a way that there are no tax consequences, so it may not be stupid amounts of money all at once, but they will be taken care of...

5. I would probably have a little work done on myself. Nothing to extreme. I have always hated my teeth, but to have them fixed is purely cosmetic, so not covered by insurance, so would be done. I don't know about any other work, but who knows.

6. Travel. I want to see the world. I would start with Prague. I am part Czech and have seen Travel Channel specials on Prague and that is on the top of my list. I'll probably hang out there and travel through Europe with the dogs while my house is being custom built.

A poem

While going through some of Grandma's writings, we came across this poem. Now, my Grandmother was a always a lady, but she had a great sense of humor. This is just too funny not to share....

The Golden Years

(Caution: Keep out of the hands of small children)

The Golden Years? Don’t hand me that!
My hair is thin; my ankles fat.
I laugh by chance
I wet my pants.
My figure has turned upside down;
My boobs are flat, my stomach’s round.
My love canal
Is dry as hell.
And just my teeth go out at night.
A b.m. is the day’s highlight.
My organs are all out of tune.
The Golden Years? Go suck a prune!

- By Marie Horejs

The world is less bright today

I just want to share a few memories of my grandmother, one of my favorite people. She passed away this morning, leaving the world a little less bright today. She would be very embarrassed about the all fuss made over her.

This picture was taken in 1989, it shows she was always a kid at heart.

One of the first life lessons I remember was at church. I was probably 7 or 8 years old and we were exited the service, shaking hands with Dr. Grossman as we left. That is when she taught me not to have the “dead fish” handshake. I think she may have commented, in her non-judgmental way, that Dr. Grossman’s handshake could stand to be a bit more firm.

My grandmother was a smart woman. A genius in fact! A Mensa member, and proud of it! Years ago, when I graduated college, Grandma made the trip to South Georgia, along with other family members. At the time, my friend was working at a small publishing company. Well, Grandma wanted to see a sample of the magazines. So, my friend, proud of the work her company produces, brings over a published copy of a magazine. Well, lo and behold, Grandma finds a typographical error! That friend still asks about Grandma all the time.

Because of her, I learned not to be ashamed or hide my intelligence. I learned that my opinion does matter. And, most importantly, I learned the recipe for the traditional Czech bread, Hoska!

She loved her puzzles and game shows especially Wheel of Fortune. So tonight, I’ll time dad when he does the jumble and make sure he does not cheat, and I hope Heaven has all the vowels she needs.

Some of her last words to me were: “don’t forget me”. Grandma, I never will.

Last Mango In Paris...

I am a ParrotHead, all hail Jimmy Buffett. In his song Last Mango in Paris, which is my all time favorite Buffett song, he pays tribute to Captain Tony. Well, Captain Tony passed away Saturday. Here's a link to the story:

http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php?page=news&n_id=673

And here's a link to a youtube video of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbuppicoI88

A legend never dies.

Cold night and a Spooked Hound

I'm not one to turn on my furnace easily at the drop of temperatures. I grew up in the Midwest and I know cold weather. I will admit it's getting chilly here, but I refuse to turn on my furnace yet!

Last night Gemini was trying to get under some covers in his crate, so I decided to get another blanket for both the dogs. I turned on the light, made sure I had Gemini's attention, and laid another blanket on him. All was well.

Heater's turn. I thought he was awake. I laid a blanket over him. He shot up, tried to get into the crate with Gemini, jumped on my bed, jumped off my bed and paced the room. I scared the poor boy. I called him back to me, and petted him a bit, got him to lay back down, put the blanket back on him and the same thing. I think I scared him so bad with the blanket that he was having nothing to do with it. Poor Heater. Maybe he lives up to his name and doesn't need the blanket on a cold night....