Dog days of summer

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

~John Lennon

It has been two months and 12 days since I last entered anything on this blog. I look at the calendar and wonder where the time went. The days seem to fly by, summer is almost over, and while I won't miss the heat and humidity, I will miss the fresh vegetables from my garden, the flower beds, and quick trips to Hueston Woods to relax on our pontoon boat. The dogs have accompanied us to the lake, and while McKenzie has thoroughly enjoyed herself in the water, Chance and Layla aren't quite as impressed. To be truthful, I think Layla would prefer we leave her at home in her kennel, especially after falling into the water between the boat and the dock yesterday.

So much has happened this summer. After a month off work recovering from my surgery, I went back to work and without warning found myself to be two staff members short. Luckily I have an outstanding group who carried on without missing a beat, and I have since replaced staff with new colleagues who bring lots of talent to the table. I always have said that things happen for a reason, this is just one step in my staff's quest for excellence.

The Caring Closet continues to grow by leaps and bounds. We are gearing up for the start of school and are very close to submitting our application for our 501(c)3 status. Please remember to send gently used kids clothing our way, along with any donations of soap, shampoo, new socks and underwear of any size.

Perhaps the most exciting news I have is that Heather, Jeff and baby Lela are moving back to the Cincinnati area. In 12 days I will get to hold that precious princess in my arms again. I CAN'T WAIT!!! We hope to have Eric and Silvia home to visit for Christmas, as well as Chris and Kyle. At the risk of sounding like a movie...it's a wonderful life!

My family has intimated that I am spending too much time on my laptop. (Obviously not on my blog!) I try to explain to them that I am on a mission. I have been trying to help round up some things for Heather and Jeff. Logistically it is not practical to ship everything they own from Hawaii. Hence, my addiction to Craigslist. Where else can you furnish an entire room with Arhaus, Pottery Barn and Pier One furniture for under $300.00? And, I feel the need to put in a good word for yard sales. I was able to start an unbelievable collection of Fisher Price toys for Lela for a grand total of $20.00. Of course you have to be picky, but everything I've bought looks brand new, and is super clean.

And, while I am on a thrifty kick, I need to ask...are any of you coupon queens? I am fascinated by the ability to save big using coupons, but I realize it is an art, and I don't know what I am doing. I want to stockpile free shampoo and toothpaste and whatever else I can get my hands on...I just need a teacher!

Preseason football starts tonight, a sure sign that summer is coming to a close. I love watching the Bengals, especially now that I have friends in Pittsburgh to irritate (sorry Lisa and Rashid). T.O. and Ochocinco should be fun to watch, maybe a Superbowl appearance this year??? Time will tell :)

I promise to be better about blogging. Let me know if you've read this, and as always, I am open to suggestions for blog topics.
Love,
C

Forget the underwear...

I learned a long time ago that minor surgery is when they do the operation on someone else, not you.

~Bill Walton

Remember when your mother always said "Make sure you have on clean underwear, you may be in an accident and have to go to the hospital."? Well, I am here to say, forget the underwear, they make you take it off at the hospital. Make sure your legs are shaved. As many of you recall I blogged once about how I am a late bloomer. Here is more proof, appendicitis is rarely ever seen after the age of 40, and is most prevalent among teenage boys. Yet somehow I managed to spend 5 days in the hospital having what is considered to be a minor procedure.

I love the picture above telling us there are no scars to show off...perhaps I need to email them a picture of the 3 inch long incision on my lower abdomen, no laparoscopic procedures on this belly! I won't go on and on about my fiasco, I am finally on the mend and working hard to get my stamina back.

For those of you in the healthcare field I have collected a few observations; don't tell a woman who has vomited every drop of fluid in her body nonstop for 12 hours that "it's just a bug going around, you'll be fine in 24 hours", don't scream at a patient whose IV has been alarming for 20 minutes that someone will fix it when they are done with report, don't wake a (finally) sleeping patient at 4:30 in the morning to write your name on a chalkboard because "there are some inspectors going around" after all the wrong patient name and doctor have been on there for the last three days, don't tell them their blood transfusion is going fine...until you've looked under the blankets to see the pool of blood covering their bed, and don't tell a patient that "technically we aren't supposed to use this machine when it's this hot" and my personal favorite following a diagnostic scan, "that was fun, bring a keg the next time and we'll have a party!".

Healthcare givers should be welcoming, skillful, and respectful. I am happy to say I did meet a few who fit that description, hopefully others will take notice and follow their lead. The picture below is Marilyn Monroe recovering from her appendectomy in 1953. I am almost a week post-op and I don't look a thing like that, then again, I didn't look like that before my surgery! :)

girl talk

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

~ Desmond Tutu

Last night I went to a Mother-Daughter Banquet. Nothing unusual about that, except for the fact that my mother passed away years ago and my daughter lives 5000 miles away. Still, I was not alone. Pictured above are the women at my table. Fortunately, I am lucky enough to be related to all of them.

Our ages spanned eight decades; left to right are me, Madison(my great niece), Ally (my great niece), my sister Sharon, Lily(my great niece), Krista(my niece) and Jane(my mother-in-law). The food was not going to win any five star awards, and the entertainment probably won't be signing recording contracts, but I had a lovely evening. I have been blessed with a mother-in-law that is loved and admired by everyone and my conversations with Lily about Barbie hats, Sponge Bob and preschool happenings were highly stimulating.

I used to dread that phone call around the end of April because I knew it was coming..."Do you want to go to the Mother-Daughter Banquet?". I would go, more for my husband's sake (after all, I'd tell him, she's your mother) than anything else. I go now without hesitation. Life and time are precious. I know there will come a day when the phone rings around the end of April, but it won't be my mother-in-law, and I won't be joining some of the women I love the most for dinner.

Save the date...

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

~ Margaret Mead

A general information meeting will be held in the Community Room at Hamilton High School on Thursday, May 20th at 7pm, for anyone interested in volunteering or supporting The Caring Closet. Hope to see you there, feel free to bring a friend!

The Caring Closet

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us: what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

~Albert Pike

A while back I mentioned that I was in the process of starting an organization to help clothe the underprivileged children of the Hamilton City School District. With the help of some wonderful and amazing friends, (Mary, Joni, Gail, Sarah, Sharon, Dr. Cobb) we are seeing wishful thinking come to fruition.

I want to take time here to explain what The Caring Closet is all about. A few months ago I met a lovely woman and her mother that were working to collect gently used clothing for deserving families, particularly for school aged children in another school district. The more I talked with them, and some teacher friends, the more I found out about the need (or hidden poverty as my friend Mary termed it) that existed in all the schools in our own school district.

Our goal is to collect gently used clothing and package it along with new socks, underwear and a book for children who are referred to us through school principals, teachers, and counselors. We are also hoping that through donations we can provide basic toiletry items such as toothpaste and toothbrushes. We are committed to making this a "faceless" operation. We will not have any contact with the children or their families, all boxes will be delivered to the schools to be distributed. Our hope is that the recipients and their families maintain a sense of dignity and self-respect. Everything will be completely confidential and we, as an organization will never know names, only boy or girl, age and size.

Initially this nonprofit operation will be housed in my basement. My hope is that someday it outgrows me and there will be others who open their space to become part of the closet. For now, we need volunteers and donations. There are a multitude of things you can do to help; pick up and delivery clothing, do a load of laundry, watch for sales, (my friend Gail just bought 10 brand new polo shirts and 10 pair of khaki shorts for $20.) Donate items; gently used clothing appropriate for school wear, new socks, underwear, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washcloth and towels, books for all ages, laundry detergent, softener, hangers, totes.

We will be holding a meeting for anyone interested in helping in the Community Room at Hamilton High School, I should have a definite date in the next few days and will post it on here and Facebook. By the way, we do have a Facebook page (The Caring Closet)under construction, please visit it and tell your friends, we need everyone we can get to make this successful. We will also be having a couple fun filled fundraisers this summer, come to the meeting to hear about those!

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact me at 513-368-9678 or email me at cmcrowthers@gmail.com

The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports

Whether you're a fan of horse racing or not, The Kentucky Derby is the one horse race everyone bets on.

~ Alex Czajkowski

I had decided weeks ago to cancel our (almost) annual Kentucky Derby Party. Having been gone from work for two weeks and knowing Mark would be working around 70 hours this last week left me little excitement for preparing for a houseful of people. Not that I don't love each and every one of you, I'm just getting old. Little did I know what would happen when I answered the phone late Thursday afternoon.

"Don't you ever check your phone? We've been calling you all day, do you want to go to the Kentucky Derby?"my friend asked. "You mean the one in two days!?!" Of course I wanted to go, but how on earth was I ever supposed to be ready to go in approximately 40 hours? Preparing for the Derby takes weeks, if not months! It was about this time I cursed under my breath for not sticking to my diet...I knew my existing fashion options were going to be limited, and I really didn't relish the idea of spending money on a dress in a size I'd rather not be. The only thing I knew for sure was that I already had the perfect Derby purse. So...the mission began.


I found out that we were incrediby lucky and were getting tickets in the Skye Terrace on Millionaire's Row. Mark was expected to wear a suit and tie (no problem, men have it easy) and I was only expected to "dress to impress" ( a little more daunting). So for the next two days when I wasn't working, I was shopping...and shopping...and more shopping. After much debate I decided on a classic black dress hanging in my closet and a pale, buttercup yellow organza hat. But wait, the weather forecast said cold and rainy, I had to buy shoes and some type of cover up as the dress only had small straps and no sleeves. So I came home both nights looking like I was packing for a vacation. Three pair of shoes, a shrug, a wrap, two hats, a short jacket and earrings. Then the tough part, deciding which of it to wear and what to return.


So Saturday morning we were off. In the back of my mind I had nagging concerns that I would be the only one in black. This turned out to be nothing to worry about, I'd estimate that close to 50% of the women there had on black. The weather co-operated with us, there was only a light mist as we walked from parking to the entrance (thank goodness for that big hat!). And once we inside the track we were scanned, wrist banded and put on a private elevator to the Sky Terrace. From our table next to the window we could see the entire track, and I'm forced to admit that had I been in the grandstand I would have given up as the rain came down harder. But from where we were the weather wasn't a concern. Neither were food and drinks; both were flowing freely. Buffets with prime rib, roast turkey, asian chicken, breads, salads, steamed asparagus, succotash, and a variety of appetizers and yummy desserts.




To follow tradition I drank a mint julep and even though it was better than ones I'd had before it still won't ever be something I'll order outside of Derby Day. We placed some bets, because after all, we had our own betting windows right in our box. We also had celebrities. Author Norah Roberts, the guys from the world series of poker, Rueben Stoddard from Idol, Bob from The Bachelor, golfer Corey Pavin, multitudes of pro football players, actress Jamie Presley, former LV coach Denny Crum and couple of other actors from Bones and the old WKRP in Cincinnati. Lots of big time betting going on (not at our table) but I heard bets ranging from $8,000 to $60,000.


It was a fabulous day! One thing that had always been on our bucket list, and we are so thankful to the friends who were generous enough to offer us this opportunity. I'm sure we will never forget it. THANK YOU!

One other very important thing happened yesterday. I just wish I could have been with her to enjoy it...Baby Lela turned one month old! Grandma loves you and misses you!

what a week!

Up early today, heading down south to the Kentucky Derby. This has been one crazy week, tomorrow I am planning a nice long blog to recap. Right now I am waiting for the polish on my toenails to dry (I know, I don't usually do my own toes) so I can finish getting ready. Keep your fingers crossed that it stops raining, and check in tomorrow for a full report!

confessions of a late bloomer

I was a late bloomer. But, anyone who blooms at all, ever, is very lucky.

~ Sharon Olds

I always feel like I am one step behind...maybe that's why it is hard for me to believe that I've been alive for over half a century. (wow, that sounds weird, even to me!) Not too long ago I looked at my calendar and there was an orthodontist appointment penciled in for Thursday and an appointment to have contact lens checked on Saturday. I know what you are thinking, been there, done that, lots of people have to cart their teenagers to doctor appointments. The big difference here is that the appointments were for me!

I had braces on my teeth when I was in my 30's, in fact I had braces on the day Mark and I were married. I don't regret one moment of it, but I can still remember how strange it was to be the only adult in a roomful of bubbly teenagers who were hoping they would get their braces off in time for prom. I was just hoping mine would come off before menopause. Fortunately, they did. Unfortunately, my retainer broke putting me back in the chair again. My vision was always crisp and clear and I could easily read in the dark, although I'm forced to admit that my mother's voice echoed in the back of my brain telling me "Turn on the light, you'll ruin your eyes". That was until I turned 40. The minute I blew out the candles, the vision started to fade. At first it was just reading glasses. Then a brief whirl with bifocals that proved to be disastrous, followed by the constant "Where did I put my glasses?". So, at 50 I decided to try contact lenses...at least I know where they are, if I am lucky enough to get them into my eye!

It wasn't just physical late blooming; I didn't drink coffee until I was well into my 40's, I clung to "big hair" and perms until just last year, and just recently figured out how to download pictures onto my computer. My face has a tendency to breakout still and even though my friends say they can't sleep past seven on their days off, I have no trouble snoozing until 10 or later.

The way I look at it, I may chronologically be almost 51, but I'm really only 25...in beauty queen years.

Yes, I really do have a cat!

Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later.

~ Mary Bly

Contrary to popular belief I do have a cat living in my house. Notice I did not say I own a cat, anyone who knows cats will tell you; cats are not owned. The sweet little feline in the picture above is Lexie, our 13 year old long-haired calico.

I still recall the phone conversation I had with Mark when Kyle and I were at the local animal shelter. "Do not bring home a female or a long-haired cat." I readily agreed, but that promise totally left my mind when I saw this sweet little ball of fur with the longest whiskers I'd ever seen. We had to have her, a long-haired female or not! The shelter told us she was six weeks old, but our vet said four to five at the most. She easily fit into the palm of my hand.

This was all before dogs...I had no desire to have a dog (don't ask me what happened there,I have no clue) and all was fine until McKenzie came to live with us...then Chance...then Layla. There are days when the dogs leave Lexie alone, but those are few and far between. She spends most of her time in our basement, coming in and out the cat door we installed in the door to our downstairs. She always comes up for treats in the morning and a goodnight pet and purr when the dogs go out before bed. We affectionately refer to her as our cellar dweller.

One problem we've encountered as she's aged is the fact that Lexie easily becomes matted. Not just hairballs, I'm talking full-fledged, down to the skin, full body length matts. We have to have her sedated and shaved by the vet about once a year. The picture above is one day post shaving- they leave her head and tail alone. I remember the first time I told Kyle we were having this done. I made the mistake of wording it "I am taking Lexie to the vet. We are having her put to sleep so they can shave her." I only got to "put to sleep" when Kyle cried out in protest "I can't believe you can be so cruel."

Most everyone knows we are dog lovers. It wasn't until last week when I had to go in late to work and leave early to take Lexie to the vet that I realized most people don't know we have a cat, and these are people who've been to my house more than once. (I think my staff thought I was just using the cat excuse to get out of work) :)
I forgave them, my friends all know I have a cat...or so I thought. The next night during bookclub Lexie made a rare appearance and one of my dearest friends noted that "Your cat is bald". This was followed by a chorus of "You have a cat?!?" from the others.

Yes, I really do have a cat!

my aha moment

A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.

~Oliver Wendell Holmes

I recently interviewed with another company for a new job. Several interviews actually. They had lots to offer; a substantial increase in pay, matching 401K, bonus incentives, and profit sharing. It was an opportunity for professional growth and advancement that, had I been 20 years younger, I would have killed for. Taking this new job would require a minimum of 60-70 hour work weeks for at least the next 12 months. While I was gone I had lots of time to rethink the opportunity that waited for me back home in Ohio.

I can't argue that making more money would be nice, and it would also feel good to be challenged with new opportunities, but was I willing to give up so much of my time at this point in my life? For a long time, most of my life actually, I've chased the dream. Always wanting more, never quite satisfied, afraid I was missing out on something. Sometime in the last 6 months something happened, and for lack of a better word, I realize that I had my "aha" moment.

I am so blessed to have a healthy family, a beautiful new granddaughter, a comfortable home where friends are always welcome, a husband who loves me unconditionally, enough financial security to enjoy vacations, splurges on pedicures and spa treatments, clothes, shoes, purses and ridiculously priced out to eat meals. I have friends who know all about me, the good, the bad and the ugly and love me anyway, who stand up for me when others try to put me down. I've come to value my family as my number one possession, my children are my greatest accomplishment- not my financial reports or scores or anything else related to my job. I love the fact that my dogs act like they haven't seen me in years when I come home at night, that I can step out my backdoor and feel like I've entered another world where stress and distractions can't find me, and where I can dig around in the dirt, playing with flowers or growing vegetables. I want to be a better cook and love it when I find a little extra time to try a new recipe. Books are my friends, I never want to be so tired at night that I can't read a chapter if I want to. I've walked along the Grand Canal in Venice, stood at the top of the Coliseum in Rome, climbed to the top of Diamond Head, danced on bar tables in Cozumel, swam with stingrays in Grand Cayman. I've soaked up the sun on beaches from Florida to New Jersey, and hiked the rain forests in Peurto Rico.

But, I've also rode snowmobiles and 4 wheelers in College Corner, Ohio, spent countless hours in friends' and neighbors' family rooms, hosted impromptu summer parties on our deck, and spent lazy afternoons in the 914 cruising around with no where special to go. Once a month I have 15 family members over for dinner and it doesn't cost anywhere near what Mark and I have spent on overpriced meals just for ourselves. All of it was fun, it didn't really matter where it was. The place isn't what made me happy...it was the people I was with.

I've learned to truly appreciate the people in my life, they don't really care how much money I make or what possessions I have; but they do care if I am "there". Pursuing a job that would take that precious time away didn't make sense, especially when I already have a job that lets me work with some of the finest people I've ever known and provides me a balance of work and home that I would be giving up if I were to leave and go elsewhere.

I know I had a true aha moment because I have no regrets or second thoughts. Have you had an aha moment?

post vacation syndrome

Sweet little angel face lifts me up with just a gaze...

OK, I AM a slacker. I have been neglectful of my blog. I have been back from Hawaii for 10 days now and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't wish I could hold Lela in my arms and kiss her little head. I haven't felt quite up to writing, but life goes on, and it is time for me to get back a sense of normalcy.

Jet lag hit me harder this time than any of the other trips I've made. It took a good four to five days before my body adjusted to daylight savings time. Work has been extremely busy (job security) and thankfully my wonderful staff kept up with everything so I had little catching up to do there. Mark did a good job of keeping the house and dogs under control so I really don't have much excuse for being a slacker other than I just am.

My heart was heavy when I left Heather, Jeff and Lela. I had no idea I could love anything as much as I had loved my own children. Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, fatigue, extra strength Tylenol and puffy eyes over took my uncontrollable crying and I fell asleep. At some point I explained to the elderly woman sitting next to me that I was not afraid of flying, just terribly sad to leave my family. She smiled knowingly, patted me on the hand and simply said "I understand".

When I returned home, I tried to focus on the positive, after all, we've been blessed with a perfect, beautiful baby girl. I'm glad it is spring, the weather and flowers have done wonders to lift my spirits. I've managed to plant my vegetable garden (larger this year thanks to my awesome hubby!), transplant some perennials, improve my recycling habits (thanks to Heather and Jeff) and refocus on my kid's clothing project for the schools.

...maybe I'm not that much of a slacker :)

letting go

Today is April 6th and it is my last full day in Hilo, Hawaii. Lela Elaine Lehua came into this world and into our hearts on April 1st at 4:58pm, weighing 8lbs 11oz 21inches long. She is truly beautiful and one of the calmest babies I have ever seen. I don't want to ever leave her, let alone be separated by the Pacific Ocean and most of the United States. I keep trying to not think about missing put on her life but those thoughts creep relentlessly into my subconscious. I never knew any of my grandmothers and can only think about the special relationship my own children had with their Granny. Heather doesn't have internet access so my ability to see her grow and change will be limited to snapshots taken with a BlackBerry. I am reminded that this is the case for many grandparents but it doesn't make my heart any less heavy.

April 1st

Sitting in Hilo Medical Center awaiting baby girls arrival. It looks like her birthday will be 4-1-10.At least according to PST Heather is resting comfortably. Can we really be at the end of this long journey?

One more day

So I went to the doctor with Heather and Jeff today. Heather is one day past her due date and is really over being pregnant and is ready to be a mommy. Her blood pressure is up a little and she is spilling some protein. The doctor gave her the option of inducing labor or giving her one more day to go on her own. She and Jeff really want as little intervention as possible so they are giving it one more day. Back to the doc in the am...keep your fingers crossed that we can say Happy Birthday to baby girl on March 31st.

Overdue

update

There is no internet service here at the house in Hawaii, so I am blogging on my phone...not the easiest thing in the world. The new baby is due tomorrow and seems determined not to make an early appearance. The weather has been beautiful and we've been to the hot ponds to soak and to an outstanding farmers market. I only hope the baby comes soon, it is going to kill me to leave her. I want to enjoy her as much as possible. I will try to figure out adding pics to the blog from my phone so stay tuned. Heather sends her thanks to everyone who sent gifts. Cards and baby pics to follow.

Testing 1...2...3...

This is a test of the emergency blogcast system. It has been over 2 weeks since I've been able to log on and all of sudden things seem to be working again. I'm making this a short post and we will see what happens...

Facing facts

It's very important to have the right clothing to exercise in. If you throw on an old T-shirt or sweats, it's not inspiring for your workout.

~ Cheryl Tiegs

It was time to face the cold, hard truth. I leave for Hawaii three weeks from tomorrow, and over the past two months I have lost and gained and lost and gained weight, but I am no where close to where I want to be. I know what I have to do but it involves climbing those stairs of death and engaging in the E word. I used to enjoy exercise, in fact, I loved it. No more. I wish I could get back to that place, but it just isn't working for me.

Perhaps I need to do as Cheryl Tiegs suggests and buy some cute workout clothes. I haven't bought any clothes in almost two years,(waiting until I lose weight-LOL!) and my workout clothes are probably close to 10 years old...you can hold on to them that long when you don't wear them very often. :)

I can't use the excuse that I don't have what I need to workout, the picture above is right in my own house. Nautilus, free weights, balance ball, treadmill, bands, bike, ab roller (that's Mark's and yes, he uses it) flat screen on the wall and built in stereo speakers. The only thing missing is an elliptical.

So tonight I forced myself to workout. Surely I can keep this up for the next three weeks. If not, I will take the advice that is written over the window in that room; To stay young, eat well, sleep well, exercise well, and lie about your age.

Chapter One

Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.

~ Mark Twain

I will be the first to admit that I've been missing in action. It's been almost a week since I've blogged, and I have one thing to blame it on, and it isn't Mark. I've been reading...like someone who is addicted. If you have never been part of a bookclub, you need to find one or start one of your own. My bookclub is small, much smaller than it was a couple years ago, but it is every bit as enjoyable as it was then.

The first two books we read this year were non-fiction, inspirational sorts. This month we decided on Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa Lee. This book is story of the young girls growing up in 19th century China. It is historical fiction, my favorite thing to read. I started this book Friday night and will finish it tonight, four days later. Among my favorite books are The Red Tent and The Other Boleyn Girl. If history in school had been taught using these books, I would have been a straight A student.

I am lucky to have children and stepchildren (although all of them are adults now) that like to read. I've even bought books for the new baby girl already. What a fun and inexpensive habit to nuture. I've always said that I really won't need much to keep me happy when I get older. As long as I have a library card and public transportation to get there, I can have all the books, music and movies I could possibly want. Add the free internet to that and I've got it made. Heck, if I get signed up for meals on wheels I've hit the jackpot!

So I will try to be better about blogging, especially after tonight. However, I do have another brand new book waiting on me...thanks, Kathy for mentioning The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Drive-Thru Rage

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

~ Author unknown

I have about had it with drive thru lanes at fast food restaurants. All I want in the morning is to get a large, black coffee and be on my way to work. But noooooo, there are those in this world who have to make that difficult. I happen to like the coffee at one of the better known fast food places in town, but for some god forsaken reason they had to go and make their drive thru lane something that now resembles a cornfield maze in October. I swear there are mornings when I think they need a flagger with one of the bright green vests to direct cars. What is so hard to understand about the concept of one lane splitting into two, with cars alternating turns to place their orders?

I have come to experience a new phenomenon that I have coined "drive-thru rage". There happens to be one woman who drives this goofy car with one of those goofy stickers on the back window with her kid's name on it, that I am certain is trying to push me over the edge. She drives right past everyone in line to cut her way into the outer lane,and then pretends to be totally oblivious to the fact that she drove past six other cars to weasel her way in. She does this all the time, and when it happened last I tried to be rational and figure out why she thinks she is so privileged. Perhaps she is a teacher,drops her own child- the one who's name is on the sticker- off at the high school and then has to rush to get to her own school. If this were the case, then why does she always sit and gab at the window for so long when she gets her food? On one particular day she happened to be right in front of me when I paid and I followed her out of the parking lot onto the main street. She certainly wasted no time driving away from the drive thru, maybe her schedule is tight in the mornings too. Was I being too harsh in my judgement of her? So I continued behind her for about a mile and a half, wondering which school she worked at, or maybe she worked at the hospital- that would require her to be on time, when suddenly she made a quick right turn and pulled over...into the driveway in front of her house! Are you kidding me??? Of course, she doesn't work, she had to rush home with her sugary, chocolate,fake cappuccino and sausage muffin to watch Good Morning America! Doesn't this woman know that I have to be in Sharonville to save lives and stamp out disease??? She is just lucky I have to unlock the doors to the clinic or I would have been tempted to stop.

My friend Shari says I can solve this problem by getting my coffee somewhere else...I say that would be just too easy.

Best in Show

Relaxing at home in Cincinnati.















Claiming the prize in New York.

If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.

~ Roger Caras

The Westminster Dog Show was held this past week and the picture above is the scottie who was crowned Best in Show. Her name is Sadie, but I am thinking she bears an uncanny resemblance to Shadow, the scottie shown above relaxing at his home with the Cobb family in Cincinnati. In fact, with the exception of the difference in gender, one could argue that Sadie and Shadow may be the same dog. It's hard to believe that Shadow is a rescue, he is quite handsome. Perhaps Shadow and Sadie were litter mates...we should start that rumor...

I love watching the dog show, I always root for the cocker spaniels to win, and I spend a fair amount of time protesting the fact that a cock-a-poo is not a recognized AKC breed. Of course, we haven't told McKenzie that, I don't think she would understand. I will be the first to admit that I don't have a clue how the dog show judges choose a winner. Did you ever see the movie "Best in Show"? It is hilarious, totally mindless, and if the truth be told, probably more accurate than we know. Honestly, don't you think sometimes the judge just picks their personal favorite?

So in the spirit of the Westminster dog show I am adding some pictures of my favorite dogs and their titles.


My prize winning group; McKenzie, Miss Canine Congeniality. Layla, Best of Show, plus sized dogs (aka big-boned). Chance, Best of Show, Dogs with Disabilities.


Leo, Best of The Sweetest Faces Ever (even if he is the only one on this blog who wasn't a rescue)



Maya and Marley, the big and the small of it... Best of the Aloha dogs and Santa's Helpers!

In case you haven't noticed, I've added The Daily Puppy (see right). I hope you enjoy it!

A dog is man's best friend, and woman's too.

~ Anonymous

Why me?

A healthy body is a guest chamber for the soul: a sick body is a prison.

~Francis Bacon,Sr.

I haven't had a common cold in years. And based on how I feel right now, I hope I never have another one as long as I live. I feel awful, my head feels like it is going to explode and I have zero energy. I am convinced I am currently afflicted with the worst cold anyone has ever had in the history of man.

Who came up with the term "cold" anyway? It sounds like such an innocent little name for what I would prefer to call the "viral death". My ear hurts, my face hurts, my muscles ache, I have a headache, cough and can't stop sneezing and blowing my nose. Surely no one else has suffered as much as me...

So I've stocked up on tissues, tylenol, advil, sudafed, hot tea and honey. (And quite honestly nothing is helping) I'm not much fun this weekend and I feel sorry for Mark that he is stuck with a shut-in on the weekend. I hate being sick, I have too much to do. I have a great blog coming up about the recent Westminster Dog Show and the dogs you didn't see but that will have to wait until the watery eyes subside.


Right now, I'm on a mission to find a kleenex.

Talk to me.

What a strange power there is in clothing.

~Isaac Bashevis Singer

Clothes do have power don't they? How many of you own at least one pair of blue jeans that you just love? They fit well, they are the right length and when you have them on they have the power to make you feel like a super-model. Or at least a model for the JC Penney catalog...

And the power doesn't just apply to jeans. What about that favorite pair of pajamas (or for me, my favorite robe) or sweatshirt or sweatpants that define comfy and make the stress of the day fade away? Who doesn't know a man who has a favorite shirt that you'd secretly like to throw away, but he thinks it is the greatest piece of clothing ever manufactured? And...why is it that men think they have to have every t-shirt or hat sold at every sporting event or, in our case, car show, known to man? Is it really necessary to have a t-shirt for every annual antique and classic car parade for 12 years in a row??? I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that it must be the male equivalent to a woman having 10 different pair of black shoes...and that is another blog all of it's own.

Clothing doesn't hold this power for adults only. It applies to children too, and when you throw in the desire that most kids have to want to fit in, that power multiplies. I recently had the opportunity to meet an amazing couple who are providing gently worn clothing for students in the Lakota school district. Normally I would have thought how wonderful this is and gone on with my business.

For the past two weeks the thoughts of how many children in my own school district who could benefit from this has weighted heavily on my mind. After multiple, and I do mean multiple, talks with Mark, we are seriously considering starting an organization to provide qualifying children in the Hamilton City school district the same opportunity. There are still lots of particulars to work out, I am doing some research and interviewing others who are doing the same thing, including a group in Oregon, but the general idea is that we will organize donated clothing and through referrals from the schools provide clothing to children who need it to stay warm or replace what they've outgrown. More importantly it will provide them with power. The power that comes from knowing someone cares, that they too, can fit in with their friends, that they have something to wear to school.

So, I am asking for your feedback. I've talked to a few teachers and my friend who works for the school board, they are supportive and think this will be beneficial. What do you think? Don't be afraid of hurting my feelings, Kyle thinks I've lost my mind, I can handle it. If you have questions, let me know, it may be something I haven't thought of. Thanks, I will keep you posted.

Shave, hold the haircut...

When you are skinning your customers, you should leave some skin on to heal, so that you can skin them again.

~ Nikita Khrushchev

Is that one of the strangest quotes you've ever heard, or what? I don't know who Nikita is, but it makes me wonder what he did for a living!

In an earlier blog I mentioned that I, on occasion, have a procedure called dermaplaning performed. That's me in the picture above, last night at NVogue MediSpa. NVogue is in West Chester at the Streets of West Chester, close to PF Chang's and Bravo. For those of you who are looking for an upscale spa that offers personalized attention without being intimidating, NVogue is the place for you. The women who work there are personable, friendly and wonderful at what they do, be it facials, massages or nails. Please check out the website and give it a try.

The hands holding the scalpel in the picture belong to Rhonda Sternberg, the owner of NVogue. And yes, I did say scalpel...the kind they use for surgeries. If you happen to go to NVogue, make sure you ask to see Rhonda's "before and after" pictures, she is the best commercial for her services one could possibly ask for. I say she is really brave for sharing the before pic, the after pic though is so awesome it makes you want one of everything! Rhonda is beautiful, relaxing and fun to be around, and genuinely loves what she is doing.

But back to the dermaplaning, which is really just a nice way of saying shaving all the dead skin and fine hair off your entire face. I have a picture of the skin she scraped off my face, but it was just way too gross to publish. It doesn't hurt at all, once you get used to the fact that someone is taking a scalpel to your face. And yes, there is a huge trust factor involved here. After the face is dermaplaned, you get a glycolic peel, followed by an application of carbon dioxide. The CO2 immediately cools the skin, so there is none of the redness or peeling you usually associate with facial peels.

The difference in my skin texture is amazing and the result immediate. The sun spots are lighter and makeup glides on smooth and evenly. (my friends, Bobbi Brown and Mary Kay would be proud) One thing I've learned is to never say never, but I am 99.99% certain that I won't ever go under the knife to have a face lift. And as long as I have Rhonda and her magic scalpel I won't even have to think about it.

What's in a kuku name?

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild.

~Welsh Proverb

The 12 plus inches of snow we've received has left my workplace a little on the quiet side, not many people are willing to brave the roads to have a drug screen or a physical done. So the girls and I have had a little extra time to chat about the more important things in life, like what will this new baby call her grandmother?

It is amusing to hear what everyone calls their grandparents or what their own children call them. My own children called my mother Granny when they were little and once they were pretty much grown they called her GG. We always told her it stood for greatest grandma, but in reality we lovingly called her goofy grandma. I do not really recall having any grandmother. She passed away when I was 7 years old and lived in another city, so I have virtually no memory of her.

Lots of suggestions were offered up; Grandma, Granny, Gran, Mamaw, Meme, Nan, Nana- I don't really have a preference. Mark says he already knows what the baby will call me. "Stranger". Ha,ha, little does he know that I have no intention of letting that happen. It was during this discussion that I recalled Heather telling me she wanted the baby to call me the Hawaiian name for grandmother. For the life of me I couldn't recall what it was, but with the assistance of google I had my answer within seconds...

It was Kuku Wahine. After the laughter died down and I picked myself up off the floor a momentary bit of panic set in. Kuku Wahine??? Seriously??? I went back to google and read further, convinced that there must be more to this story...or was this karma for calling my own mother goofy grandma? So I read the article again and there I found my explanation. Although Kuku Wahine was the traditional name for grandmother, the contemporary version is Tutu. Unconventional yes, but I can live with Tutu, in fact I like it very much.

So goes the name game...however, I am old enough and wise enough to know that the best laid plans sometimes go astray. My dear friend Brenda told me she went through the same thing when her granddaughter Kaylee was born. Brenda advised me not to worry too much about what my own granddaughter will call me. She said "It doesn't matter what you choose. That baby will decide, and whatever comes out of her mouth the first time will stick forever". Let's just hope it isn't Kuku. :)

The secret of the universe.

There is no cosmetic for beauty like happiness.

~Maria Mitchell

I know I've mentioned my friend Mary who has the food blog, but I have two other friends I want to mention. One is another Mary and the other one is Bobbi. That would be Bobbi Brown and Mary Kay. If you aren't familiar with them, let me introduce you.

I love makeup. Mostly because for me it is an much a necessity as toothpaste and deodorant. I was not blessed with a flawless complexion, and I find my self jealous of women who have porcelain skin. It has been a vicious circle these 50 years. My teenage years were plagued by acne, which in my infinite wisdom, I thought could be cured by over exposure to the sun and (God forbid!) sunlamps. Of course in the 70's everyone knew that if you wanted to be tan you soaked yourself in baby oil. That did nothing but clog my pores even further and offered no protection against the dangerous rays I was exposing myself to. For a long time I skated by, unscathed by my errant ways. I did not give up the sun, I just used sunscreen...of course i thought an SPF of 4 was plenty. For a long time I managed to look younger than my age, at least that what everyone said...then one day I woke up and it had happened.

Where on earth did these spots come from?!? And these lines and wrinkles? Who was this woman staring back at me? And so it began. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I am not afraid to try something if I think the results are worth it. They have listened to my detailed explanations of laser procedures, peels, and dermaplaning. Dermaplaning is exactly what it sounds like it is. They take a scalpel and scrape off the top layer of skin on your face, this then is followed by a CO2 peel. Maybe I will be able to give you pictures of this as I am scheduled to have another one soon. Once this is all done there is a special bleaching lotion that has to be applied to the particularly stubborn spots. Sometimes I feel like I am Lady Macbeth chanting "out damned spot, out I say!". Can I give another piece of advice, especially to you younger girls? WEAR SUNSCREEN EVERYDAY.

So this is where my friends Mary and Bobbi come in. They both have wonderful products and thankfully both can be ordered online, my favorite way to shop. I particularly like Bobbi Brown's corrector (shown above).It conceals, covers, colors and blends beautifully. Spots, blotchiness, little veins and that occasional blemish that I can't outgrow disappear when I use it. On her website, Bobbi says it is the secret of the universe, but I am sharing it with you. If you are brave you can go to Macy's at Kenwood or Nordstrom and have a makeover by a Bobbi Brown artist. Trust me, they won't hesitate to tell you what you are doing wrong and will point out what "Bobbi says" is the right way. Mary Kay is a little less intimidating. You probably know her favorite color is pink, although in an effort to appeal to the modern woman, they are using more silver and black for their packaging. Mary has some great skin care products, but I do admit that sometimes I think it is confusing there are so many. I love their toner and oil-free eye makeup remover.

So I continue on my quest for amazing products. And all the while I try to remember that I need to eat right and get plenty of sleep and never forget that there is no cosmetic like happiness.

It is nice to look at.

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful.

~Alice Walker



I think snow is God's way of telling us to stay put. So today I listened. The roads ended up not being that bad, I am told, but I didn't really care. I was happy to stay home. I got so much done, cleaning- including steam cleaning the bedroom carpet, income taxes filed, some tasty bbq chops in the crock pot and most importantly, a nice long nap. No need to get dressed up for any of this, so I've hung out all day in my pjs. I did manage to take a shower, but pjs seemed like the best attire for a day spent at home with a fire going.

I promised to share note worthy items as I stumble upon them, and today I have two things I want to mention. One is Turbo Tax. I know, I know, it's been around forever, but I was a skeptic. After paying our accountant what I considered to be an inflated price for filling out our taxes last year, only to get audited and have to pay interest on his mistake did I seriously consider Turbo Tax. So I paid $49 for the Deluxe edition at Costco and I was set. It is super user friendly and unless I really screwed it up (time will tell) I was happy with the refund we are getting. The second thing is the flat rate priority mailing boxes at the post office. These boxes are meant to be stuffed as full as you can possibly manage and the price doesn't change except for the size of the box. And while I'm on the topic of post offices...I have some advice. Find a small, little post office that only has a couple people working and get to know them. The one in Trenton and the one in West Chester on Cin-Day Road are great examples. They will take care of you and always make sure you get the best deal.

The pork chops were awesome. They have a slightly smokey, bbq flavor and fell apart when I stuck a fork into them. By the way, if you haven't read Mary's blog Casa en la cocina lately check it out. She has had some really yummy stuff on there, and I LOVE the new format. (fancy, schmancy)

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl, but tonight we're home with a movie, if I can get NASCAR turned off :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Here's the recipe for the pork chops.

Slow Cooked BBQ Pork Chops

1 tablespoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
4 boneless pork loin chops
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 cup tomato puree (I add a little extra)
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder*

Mix paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper together. Rub pork with olive oil then with spice mixture. Spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and sear chops on both sides.

Transfer chops to a plate and add onion to the skillet, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato puree, ketchup, honey and chili powder. Spread half the sauce in the bottom of the crock pot. Top with the pork chops and the remaining sauce. Cover and cook until pork is fork tender, about 4 hours on low.

* If you do not have chipotle chili powder you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika and 1/2 teaspoon your favorite hot sauce.

In a perfect world...

If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.

~Yogi Berra

It has been pointed out to me by two of my children that I am a slacker. And based on this week alone, I would have to agree with them. I have been missing in action when it comes to the blog, but I am back and have a lot to blog about. In all fairness, I had posted a blog mid-week about Kyle's new dog, who turned out to have some issues and unfortunately had to be returned to the shelter. I removed that blog and had some evening work commitments, but I am back...and snowed in.

How many times have you heard the expression "in a perfect world..."? My perfect world changes on a daily basis, but here are a few of the items that would make my list right now.
1. You only have to have a job if really want one, it would be totally optional, and if you do choose to have one, you love it.
2. Airlines would be required to provide free tickets for family members living more than a 4 hour drive away from each other.
3. Chocolate would not have any fat or calories.
4. Your metabolism would stay the same at 50 as it was when you were 20.
5. When you find the perfect haircut, color, style etc, you could "freeze dry" it for as long as you want so it would be a good hair day everyday.
6. Thinking about exercise would be as effective as actually doing it.
7. Dinners would never take more than 15 minutes to prepare and you would always have all the ingredients you need in your cupboard, even it is something you've never heard of.
and prompted by the current weather situation...
8. Temps would never vary more than a low of 60, and a high of 80.
9. Snow would only occur when you wanted (preferably weekends) in the amount that you desire and it somehow would magically not fall on any sidewalks or streets.
10. Dogs could go out in the snow or rain and come back into the house totally dry (see pic above) and free of ice, snow and general crud. Oh yeah, their poop would magically disappear from the yard too!

So for today this (the list, not this picture!) would be my perfect world. What would yours be?

Stressed spelled backwards

I want to have a good body, but not as much as I want dessert.

~Jason Love

I love dessert, especially when there's chocolate involved. Figuring out how to squeeze dessert into my weight watchers plan, however, was proving to be a challenge. I am trying to stay focused this week, as I lost another 5 pounds when I weighed in Saturday. Unfortunately I have a track record of losing, then gaining, then losing...I am determined to lose again this week, even if it just a little.

This is where having five kids all over the globe comes in handy. I get the scoop on all kinds of products. Chris recently wrote on his blog about a fat-free brownie mix called No Pudge. Since Chris lives in New York City I was skeptical that I'd be able to find the mix locally, but I forgot, I live close to Jungle Jim's! (By the way, I think I'm becoming addicted to the Jungle) Was I ever in luck. No Pudge Fudge Brownies come in an original mix, along with 3 flavors- mint, raspberry and cappuccino. I chose cappuccino. The only thing you add to the mix in a 6oz container of non-fat vanilla yogurt. When I fixed these I warmed the brownie for a few seconds in the microwave, added one small scoop of fat free frozen vanilla yogurt and drizzled it all with chocolate syrup. Entirely fat free and only 160 calories, or 3 WW points. Absolutely lick the plate delicious!



No Pudge Fudge Brownies have a website. You can find recipes and a listing of where you can find the mix. Like I said, I found it at Jungle Jim's for $2.69. Enjoy, and be forewarned, they are addicting!

Not by the hair on my chinny, chin, chin...

What a beard hast thou got! thou hast got more hair on thy chin than Dobbin my fill-horse has on his tail.

Merchant of Venice. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 99.



So we went to a neighborhood party last night to play horse racing games and of course, eat. I live in a wonderful neighborhood, the people are fun, they care about each other and yes, they like to party. As we were finishing round one of appetizers and drinks my neighbor Daphne announces "I have a new favorite toy". Since Daphne hosted a Pure Romance party last year I was bracing myself for what she was about to pull out of her purse, only to be perplexed by the object she was holding in her hand that appeared to be a thin flexible coil with soft tips on each end. Having obtained all of our undivided attention, Daphne went on to explain that it was a facial hair threader.

Now, I don't know about you, but I seem to sprout unwanted stray hairs on my face overnight. Is it age, is it hormones, or is it just God's practical joke that we grow this crazy hair at the time in our life when we can barely see it, until it too has gotten to the point that it can be either braided or styled? I'm not sure, but I was intrigued by this miracle tool. Daphne was happy to de-hair us all,(that's her husband Mark in the other picture)and while I can't say that it was painful, you definitely can feel the hairs being pulled out by the roots. I am forced to admit that even though I professed to have no hair on my upper lip, I had tears come to my eyes and asked "Am I bleeding?" when she attacked my nonexistent moustache. However, I am a convert. All the fine hair, peach fuzz stuff disappeared, I was on a mission to have one of these miracle workers. So, in the interest of keeping our neighborhood free of unwanted hair, Daphne shared her secret, and I will share it with you. Here is the link, in case you want to order your own Bellabee Facial Hair Remover.

Code word

Close friends contribute to our personal growth. They also contribute to our personal pleasure, making the music sound sweeter, the wine taste richer, the laughter ring louder because they are there.

~ Judith Viorst

You may have noticed I haven't been here for a couple days, and just so you know, it wasn't because of writer's block. I had book club at my house last night and it was late when everyone left. I sat down to add an entry, but the sedating effects of limoncello, pinot grigio and lots of laughter left me exhausted and the bed won over the laptop. For those of you who have never tried limoncello, you must do so at least once. Limoncello is a lemon flavored liqueur, usually imported from Italy. Because we had read "Eat, Pray, Love" this month, I chose to serve Italian themed refreshments. Limoncello can be mixed with other things, but we chose to have it straight from the freezer (yes, it needs to chilled in the freezer) in beautiful antique cordial glasses rimmed with sugar. Mmm, mmm...



Which leads us to the strawberry tiramisu tarts. These delicious bite sized piece of heaven are the easiest things to make, and I've added the recipe from Paula Deen below. But you are probably wondering what all this has to do with book club. Our book club has just been reinvigorated, and after last night, I can't for the life of me remember why we let such great times fall by the wayside. Contrary to popular belief we do actually read one book a month (not too much to ask) and we do discuss it. I find it fascinating to hear the multitude of interpretations our group can come up with, sometimes I wonder if we all really read the same book. The one thing we do have in common is the laughter. Lots of it. I have been blessed with exceptional friends. They have been with me through the good times and the bad, births, deaths, weddings, divorces, you name it. I don't ever want to lose my connection to them. So once a month we have book club. Book club, as my wise husband has pointed out, is a code word for we eat, we drink, we laugh, and most of all we remember how lucky we are to know each other.

Strawberry Tiramisu Tarts
1/2 cup strawberry preserves, at room temperature
1 1/2 (6.3-ounce) packages miniature bite-size sweet tart shells or phyllo shells
1 (8-ounce) package mascarpone cheese, softened
1/4 cup Limoncello or lemonade
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon lemon extract
2 quarts fresh strawberries, halved
Directions
Place about 1/2-teaspoon strawberry preserves in bottom of each tart shell; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine mascarpone cheese, Limoncello or lemonade and lemon juice. Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

In a medium bowl combine cream, sugar and lemon extract. Beat at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until medium peaks form. Fold into mascarpone mixture, stirring until combined.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon mascarpone mixture into each tart shell. Top each with a strawberry half.

I love garlic!

Without garlic I simply would not care to live.

~ Louis Diat

Tonight is "Biggest Loser" night and I'm trying to watch the progress of the losers and write at the same time. By the way, I hope that Melissa on the red team gets kicked off soon, I don't care for her. I am feeling motivated again and back on track according to my scale, we will see what happens on Saturday...I don't think I've mentioned that Mark has promised me $10 for every pound I lose by the end of February. I am starting my shopping list already!

I stopped at Jungle Jim's on my home from work tonight. I was in a hurry and had only two things on my list; Limoncello and mascarpone cheese. For those of you who haven't been to Jungle Jim's International Market, you must go! There is no such thing as a quick trip and I decided tonight that I am going to plan a field trip back very soon. But that will be a blog in and of itself. Tonight we talk garlic.

I love garlic. It amazes me how something so simple can transform a dish the way it does. My oldest stepson Chris recently gave me a slow cooker recipe for 40 garlic chicken. His recipe uses a whole chicken but I had an abundance of boneless, skinless breasts so I made some modifications. My version follows, but first I want to reassure you that the 25 cloves of garlic I used are not too much. Remember, the garlic actually roasts and becomes very mild, and the smell will make your kitchen a mecca for all those vampire people that seem to be lurking everywhere nowadays.

Also, I've added a couple things to this site. I've added a search button should you want to find an old post or recipe, and I've added another blog to my list. It is called Plates and Glasses, and it's author happens to be Chris, a 30-something New York City dweller. It is his take on food in the city and at home. Check it out. (He is also an awesome mixologist- maybe we can get some tasty cocktail recipes)

Slow Cooked Garlic Chicken
4-5 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
14 oz. chicken broth
Celery
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to your liking
25 peeled cloves of garlic

Chop celery into 1/2" thick pieces, enough to cover the bottom of the crock pot. Add 10 cloves of the garlic and approximately half of the chicken broth. Place the chicken breasts on top of the celery. Mix together the remaining chicken broth, olive oil, thyme, salt, pepper and remaining garlic. Pour over the chicken breasts and cook 6-8 hours on low. Chicken will be fork tender and the garlic and broth will give it a wonderful flavor.

Dogs who love too much.

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.

~ Roger Caras

Every night at my house is a three dog night. If you aren't familiar with the meaning of a three dog night (or think it's a rock band from the 70's), it means it is so cold that it takes sleeping with three dogs to keep you warm. I know what you're thinking, and yes, there are times when even I think I am crazy to let three dogs sleep on my bed. Most of the time two of them aren't any problem. Then there's Chance, the dog who loves too much.

Chance is the black cocker spaniel who has only one eye. Chance was a rescue who came to us from Kokomo, Indiana after being abused so severely that he lost an eye. He also suffers from seizures, and I can't help but wonder if Chance might have had a brain injury from his abuse as well. My friend Shari once told me that female dogs love you, but male dogs are in love with you. It is true. If you looked up puppy love in the dictionary, Chance's picture would be there. No matter where I go or what I'm doing Chance has to be there, and if he's able to touch me, lay on my lap or snuggle behind my legs he is all the happier. There's nothing like waking up in the morning with a little puppy face plopped on the pillow next you with that one soulful eye waiting to see his mom.

Chance has one fault. He's a poser. A poser is defined as one who habitually pretends to be something he's not. Chance does it to get attention, he fakes injuries. Whenever we have a group of friends or family over Chance will fake an injury if he feels he isn't getting enough attention. The first time he did it we all fell for it. He limped around, hobbled, and laid in one place so much we were convinced he had either broken a leg or dislocated his hip. Everyone at our house that night babied him and carried him around, making over him as if he'd been hit by a car. So the next day I took him to the vet,where he was xrayed and manipulated and proclaimed to be perfectly healthy; there wasn't a thing wrong with him. Upon hearing this Chance jumped up from his pitiful state of despair and pranced out to the car. He's done this same thing several times, always when we have company, and always when he feels like he's not getting enough attention. The most recent episode of this behavior was last Sunday night...I think it had something to do with the four little girls who were here and the fact that Chance became their patient to take care. After all, he was limping, not able to put his front paw down..."how can you be so mean, Aunt Cris, he's hurt..."

So Chance enjoyed the attention and the spoiling and laid on the couch under a snuggie looking quite pitiful until he heard the front door shut for the last time. Only then did he slowly raise his head and do a one-eyed sweep of the house to assure the coast was clear. Healed by some miracle, he jumped off the couch and raced through the house like a crazed animal. Poser.

Lazy Sunday.

A rainy day is the perfect time for a walk in the woods.

~ Rachel Carson

I have one question. What kind of drugs was Rachel Carson on?!? She obviously doesn't have three dogs or she wouldn't think walking in the woods on a rainy day is a good idea. However, Layla, the youngest of our three cocker spaniels, must think Rachel Carson is a genius. It has rained all day, and I've had to dip Layla's feet in the laundry tub more times than I care to count just to get the mud and leaves off her. We have woods behind our house and it seems to be Layla's favorite place to be whatever the weather. I am not quite sure why she is always the messiest, it just figures that she is also the heaviest (or as Mark likes to say...big-boned) of the dogs to lug around trying to get clean.

Unfortunately this has been a very low energy weekend. It seems there is some nasty virus going around and I have been doing my best to fight it off. So I have napped, watched some of the football playoffs...still a little disappointed that the Bengals aren't playing, and exerted myself once today by doing a load of laundry. Back to work tomorrow, hopefully with a little more energy and a lot less nausea. Looking at the bright side of this, maybe I'll weight less...

Take care and stay healthy!

Please read!

Thanks to everyone who is checking in periodically to read this blog. I would love to know who you are, and that you are there...please take a minute to click on the follower link to the right. If you already have a Google email account all you have to do is sign in, if not it is free and easy. Please feel free to leave comments, I love hearing feedback.

Thanks and have a great weekend!