trip to the emergency room

i got the garage door fixed yesterday. it was as cold as a witches...and they came the same day i called. so i can park in the shelter again. i even have that side cleaned out!

i went out for happy hour sliders at the local tavern and when i got home there were wrappers around the family room. cory hadn't put away his xmas loot and the dogs got into it. there were the remnants of 2 candy bar wrappers and 2 orbit gum packs. i remember getting an email from az. gal pal sharon roberts about the sweetener Xylitol. it is poison to dogs. it makes their blood sugar drop and can cause convulsions and damage their liver.

i called the local emergency vet and they told me it is serious and to bring them in. one pack of orbit has twice the limit for 50# darby. they got their stomachs pumped. by the results of their stomachs, apparently darby was the worst gum eater and york the worst chocolate eater. the dark chocolate is much worse than milk chocolate. after 2 1/2 hrs and $450 i brot them home. they couldn't have any water for 12 hrs or food for 24. in addition york had to have a charcoal infusion to stop the chocolate absorption. they were not happy campers but all is well this morning.

more snow last night. another 2 inches! i complain about the snow but it has been helping with the weight loss. 17 1/2 # so far...

so...be careful of the food around the house...and despite everything, the dogs are still cheaper than a husband!

the sunday after..

well we survived the christmas days! i went to travis and cheryl jones house for xmas eve. they and their three kids, ryan, josie and jake had the jones family xmas. they have made me an honary member. mom judy jones was there...my tropical travel buddy. penny and john lawrence with their kids shauna and tyler...penny and i are pals and mexican food aficionado. jennifer and paul lovelace too. they are all siblings. they took me in after dale left. i had a great time eating shrimp and exchanging gifts.

i got home about 930 and the garage door wouldn't open but about 3 feet. in my finest xmas attire i crawl under the door to discover the spring on the garage door had broken. the biggest storm in 20 years had started. cory was off at nadines house having the other xmas. at about 4am cory called to say he was stuck in the snow on a main road 10 blocks from the house. he had stopped by to see his longtime pal, jon bury. the wind was howling and the windchill was very low. no AAA card in his wallet. i hear the door open about 430 and a guy heading home stopped by and helped them move the car onto a side street and brot them home. the nice guy works at olive garden. so at 430 we had the stockings down and started our xmas.

the tree is magnificent. i have ornaments from all the travels and adventures. cory's preschool ornaments have their own quadrant. i look at the tree and remember going to san juan capistrano with patty and the little boys when cory was 6 or 7. we took the train from santa ana and had a great adventure. there is an ornament from catalina. it has Rosie's at the end of the pleasure pier. i remember going there as a child with the johnsons and with marty just last spring. there are some from BVI and my trips with judy, hawaiian shirts and ones from rome, paris, london, venice and all over.

the dogs have been having a great time in the snow. between 7-10 inches. the most snow in ages and it came off and on for 3 days. it took about 4 hours for me to blow the snow off the driveway and sidewalks. then we got another 2 inches. maybe i can even get a pic or two!

happy new year to all!

wow it's just a few days till christmas. the weather alternates between cool and cold. the forecast is for a white christmas. the tree is up and cory is home. they dogs are napping. they get to spend a lot of time resting. most of the shopping is done. the house is a wreck and the garage is worse. there is always the frustrating part of what to do next...i guess i'll just have to follow moms advice...make a list!

i went to weight watchers last night and , as they say, there is 15 # less of me. i wasn't too sure what to expect as i had gained 1 1/2 # the previous week. not sure what i did right or wrong although i did indulge in some christmas cookie madness. i think working in the garage did help.

i've decided on the xmas menu. prime rib, twice baked mashed potatoes, green salad and phyllo crusted pumpkin pie. i' didn't realize that most of the calories are in the crust. since the crust isn't my favorite part it's an easy fix.

i almost got to go to italy and germany this coming summer but it fell through. maybe spain and portugal next year! i may have to stay here for the summer...what the heck? i guess i'll just have to put up the wading pool. anyone interested in coming to kansas? i'm not so sure if it's kansas or me. it must be kansas!

merry christmas to everyone. may this new year be the year of your dreams!

ah, the holidays are on us!

it's sunday and there will be 2 weeks of school monday before the winter break. it's been gradually getting colder. the rain turning to sleet turning to snow is happening outside. i noticed this when the dogs came in from their romp and the paw prints appeared on the clean (sort of clean) kitchen floor. off to the tub for a nice footbath. the tree is up and looks great. cory brot up all the boxes after thanksgiving.

i've been doing some shopping and bargin hunting. the dillards clearance center is having 60% off the lowest ticket so i got 60$ jeans for 9$. they even fit. i rejoined weight watchers and have lost 11.5# as of last monday...the verdict isn't in for this week. i keep waiting for the gains to come but 5 weeks and it's a steady drop. i haven't seen the effects in my clothes or face yet so it doesn't seem too real.

cory has been home for the last 2 weekends. he's got 2 weeks left too then he has 1 month off. i think mom is laughing...he comes home, takes over the TV, eats whatever is handy and the house looks like firefighters have been dopping their pants all over. even with all of that it's great to have him home. he's planning on moving home when school is out in may.

cory wants to teach. i suggested he get a special ed certificate. he may be able to get a job as a para educator while taking classes. that way he can get the experience in his field and get paid. i told him he'll have to pay rent and groceries if he moves home so he'll need a job.

with the warm weather i haven't been feeling to low this year. i don't have summer plans so i don't have anything to look forward to after school is out. i have to box up my room and move to the high school. i'll know more about the specifics in january when we meet for the first time at the new school. it will be sad to leave my friends. i've worked with some of them for 9 years. that's a long time for me. there are some of the greatest people i've ever worked with. i can't imagine having a better place to work. i'll survive and will thrive.

happy holidays to all.