Empanadas, Cheesecake, Grits & Wine

2011-12-20T22:33:00.001-05:00

Photo by Jodi Dickey - Keeneland Racecourse Fall Meet 2011

2011-12-20T22:29:00.000-05:00

Photo by Jodi Dickey - Keeneland Racecourse, Lexington, KY - Fall Meet 2011

Save Money on Christmas Cards

2011-11-26T23:45:00.001-05:00

Photo from Paintermommy.com

Here are some really great ideas for saving on your Christmas cards this year. Ideas and information from BetterBudgeting.com.

1. If it'snot in your budget to send Christmas cards this year it's okay, your friendsand family will understand. If you do want to send them but need to scale downconsider sending cards to the people you would like to get in touch with themost.

2. Sendpostcards or letters, instead of Christmas cards.

3. You caneven cut your old Christmas cards from last year in half, and send the prettyside as a postcard. I did this many years and it works great, plus you’re being‘earth friendly’ by keeping new cards out of the garbage dumps.

4. If yousend postcards, whether purchased or homemade, remember they require lesspostage than a regular card!

5. Christmascards always go on sale in December, and the longer you wait the better!

6. If youpurchase inexpensive cards at a discount store be sure to look at themcarefully.Some actually look cheap, while others are much prettier.If you’regoing to buy Christmas cards they might as well look nice!

7. Forfriends and family that live out of state or out of the country make a briefphone call and your loved ones would probably much rather hear your voice thanreceive a card in the mail.

Black Friday Sale 2011 - The Pampered Chef

2011-11-22T19:04:00.001-05:00

For the first time ever, I am offering my fantastic Pampered Chef customers a Black Friday sale. Shop from your seat and not your feet. You can avoid traffic, lines, and grouchy, sleep-deprived people starting 5 am on Friday, November 25. Here's the scoop....

Visit http://www.pamperedchef.biz/jodidthatsme during the following hours for specific discounts.

5 am - 7 am: 20% off anything
7 am - 9 am: 15% off anything
9 am - 9 pm: 10% off anything

Click "Shop Online" and enter "Black Friday" when prompted for the host name.

Please note that the website will not give you a discounted price. I will contact you when I process your order with your final, discounted price.

If you are a return customer, you can also call my cell phone to place your order. If I am unavailable, please leave your order information and the best number to reach you and I'll call you back for payment information.

Newly Redesigned Smooth Edge Can Opener

2011-01-27T21:04:00.004-05:00

Have you seen the newly redesigned smooth-edge can opener?

This is the hit of the month. No more trying to figure out how to get the darn thing on the can. All you do is place the opener on top of the can and turn the lever clockwise. It automatically latches onto the can. How do you get it off the top of the can? Turn the lever one round counter-clockwise!

Seriously, aren't the product developers at the Pampered Chef fantastic?!

And guess what else. There are more features. See the hook on the left? That's to peel those pull tab lids right off without breaking your nails or pinching your fingers. The button by the demonstrator's thumb? That operates little pinchers to help you pull the lid off the top of the can after it's opened with with no sharp edges. Oh yes, this can opener is not like any other you've ever owned.

Parmesan Garlic Potato Wedges*

2010-11-30T22:23:00.005-05:00

Delicious Parmesan Garlic Potato Wedges are just around the corner for your family with this simple recipe!

3 T freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 T Pampered Chef Parmesan-Garlic Oil Dipping Seasoning

2 medium/1 large baking potato, washed and wedged

2 t Olive Oil

Salt to taste

Combine Parmesan-Garlic Oil Dipping Seasoning, parmesan cheese and salt in platter. Brush the potato wedges with olive oil and dip into cheese/seasoning mixture. Place on stoneware and bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Makes 2 servings or 1 serving if you're like me and not willing to share.

*Recipe slightly modifyed from Taste of Home Ultimate Five Ingredient Recipes. Photo courtesy of Taste of Home.

Thriller - Downtown Lex

2010-10-31T02:12:00.003-04:00

The 9th Annual Thriller Event in downtown Lexington, Kentucky was bigger and better than ever. With more than 600 zombies and about a bazillion spectators, Thriller was by far, thrilling. To see more about the zombies, visit this WTVQ coverage.

Demented Toyz also performed in the 2009 event.

2010-10-20T13:47:00.002-04:00

In case you have forgotten, here's few reasons why mealtime with your family is so important.

Spending time with your family is an essential component of a healthy, happy family.
Meals prepared at home have more good nutrients and less bad nutrients.
Children feel important when they get to help and participate in discussions with adults.
Cooking at home is much cheaper than eating out.
You have more control over portion size and food selection. This is especially important as you try to get picky eaters to try new foods.
You have extra time to discuss the day with your children to find potential issues or problems before they become out of control.
Learning good manners is critical as children become young adults and contributors to society. Regular family meal times give you ample opportunity to instill good manners in your young ones.

These are just a few reasons and I know all families are busy. And so does The Pampered Chef. That's why we offer families healthy meal options that are prepared in 30 minutes or less and usually for less than $2 per serving. Contact me today or visit my website for great recipes that will benefit your family in more ways than just filling them up.

Great Show Today!

2010-10-17T23:54:00.003-04:00

I just had to post that I had a great show today! My hosts are the soon-to-be happy owners of a Deep Covered Baker aka The Magic Pot. They ordered well over $200 and barely paid over $100! I love my job!

We had a great time making Graveyard Brownies that were so spooky even the ghosts disappeared!!

There's a Pampered Chef Show out there for you. With so many options, what do you want to learn?

Mini Chocolate Tiramisu Cakes

2010-10-17T09:20:00.000-04:00

Help Whip Breast Cancer

2010-10-17T00:02:00.005-04:00

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and The Pampered Chef is doing their part. Will you do yours?

The October line of PINK products add style to your meals and donate money to the American Cancer Society's Breast Cancer Fund. Ranging from measuring cups to pan scrubbers to serving dishes, The Pampered Chef has a PINK item for everyone. For each item purchased, the company will donate $1 to ACS in order to HELP WHIP CANCER.

Great products for a great cause!

Visit this link for a quick view of all the PINK products or pamperedchef.biz/jodidthatsme to place your order. Remember they make great Christmas gifts and you'll feel great when you tell your friends and family that their gift played a part in the bigger picture of FIGHTING BREAST CANCER!

Amazing Opportunity with The Pampered Chef!

2010-10-16T23:35:00.003-04:00

If you have ever considered starting your own business, now is the time with The Pampered Chef. This weekend marks the 30th anniversary of The Pampered Chef and the company is pulling out all the stops. Here's what you can expect if you become a consultant today (October 17, 2010)!

$155 initial investment for the starter kit, which includes all the business materials you need to get started.

Book and submit 1 show per week for 4 weeks. And I'll do the first one for you!

After you submit the 4th show and $1,250 in sales [this can even take less than 4 shows!], you'll receive a cash rebate of $77.50.

You will receive a minimum of $250 cash commission.

You'll receive a minimum of $200 in PC dollars to spend with The Pampered Chef on products, business materials or National Conference.

Plus a product package that includes a cookware piece valued at $180

And...the best part...you'll have the opportunity to earn extra cash to pay off bills, take that much needed vacation, or save for your children's college fund....or whatever your heart desires!

You can take control of your financial future. The Pampered Chef is helping me pay off debt, replace everything in my kitchen for free or discount, and have fun doing it! Visit my business website for more information.

The Tale of the Lost Dogs

2010-06-07T11:55:00.002-04:00

I am very much a dog lover. And my dog is very much a dog magnet.

Yesterday me and two friends were walking out the door around 8:30 pm when we spotted two loose dogs roaming the neighborhood: an older yellow lab and a young Basenji-looking dog. Both dogs were wearing collars and the lab looked as if it had an ID tag dangling from the collar. My friends and I tried to catch the dogs with no luck. I immediately called in my trusty dog catcher, Kodie. The dogs immediately ran up to Kodie and wanted to be friends. Jackpot! Works every time!

So we took the dogs back to my house and put them in my back yard. Then we realized neither dog was wearing any identification. We were in a hurry and decided to leave the dogs in my backyard where they were at least safe and deal with them later. As we took two steps down the driveway the smaller Basenji-dog slipped right through the railings on my deck and acted as though he was ready to go with us.

I was really torn with what we should do. We finally decided let both dogs loose and hope either Animal Control or their owners would pick them up so they would be safe. After opening the gate, both dogs trotted down the road as if they'd had fun but were on their way home. Sadly my friends and I went on with our plans and left.

Brad and I returned to my house about 11:30 pm or 11:45 pm. When we pulled in the driveway the two dogs were snuggled up with each other lying in front of my fence gate. They blinked sleepy eyes at us as if to say, "Thank goodness you're home. We've been waiting and we're so tired!"

Now we really didn't know what to do. I couldn't just let these two stray dogs live in my driveway. As we wandered around talking over our options the dogs followed right on our heels as if they were trying to help make the decision: We all go in the house and live happily ever after.

Soon Brad and I realized the only real option was to take them to the drop-off place at the Animal Control/Lexington Humane Society. I fed them dinner first and wrote a note describing the situtation.

Once we arrived at the Animal Control building, we had to call a number to get the pass code so the door would open. I answered all the questions the officer asked. Then he said, "What kind of dogs are they?" I told him and he replied with, "Hey! I know those dogs! I've impounded them 3 or 4 times!"

He said the owners always come pick them up. That made me feel better. Kind of.

As I used the pass code to open the door, Brad went in first to open one of the kennel doors. The two dogs followed us in and went straight into the kennel as if they knew EXACTLY what to do. They sat down in the kennel and looked at us like, "Thank you! We're so tired and now we're in our napping spot!"

Brad and I both laughed. And as we turned to exit the building a stray cat trotted leisurely down the walkway in front of the door as if to see who'd just arrived.

We about died laughing. Brad said, "Maybe we should catch the cat and tell them we found it on Animal Control's doorstep!"

Since it was now like 1:30 am, I opted to go home and go to bed knowing that the two dogs were at least safe now.

One Stop Father's Day Shop!

2010-06-01T21:54:00.002-04:00

Everyone thinks about great kitchenware and gadgets when you mention The Pampered Chef. But dads might think about something else: giggling women, shopping, and aprons. And that's good news for you!

The Pampered Chef has some awesome grilling tools that every dad will love...and prices you'll love. But if you don't, have no fear. Host a cooking show and get Father's Day gifts for FREE! That's right, I said FREE! Then you can take the money he expects you to spend and buy those hot strappy heels you've been eyeing.

Blog Resurrection

2010-05-03T13:05:00.002-04:00

I am resurrecting my personal blog. For a while it seems I really didn't have much to say. But now I am an Independent Team Leader and Consultant with the Pampered Chef and I have SO MUCH to say.

For example, after years of not liking chicken, my Deep Covered Baker has shown me that a whole chicken is WAY more delicious than those processed, fluid-filled, frozen chicken breasts. Yuck! Those things are awful.

With so many new recipe ideas and easy and simple cooking products, I just can't stay quiet any more!

Stay tuned for reviews of products, recipe ideas, and kitchen shortcuts.

Keep Goldfish Out of Domestic Disputes

2009-09-30T12:16:00.004-04:00

For the sake of their little fish lips and flowing fish tails, please read this article.

5 Things Every Dog Should Know

2009-09-19T06:39:00.002-04:00

If you have ever met my dog Kodie and thought to yourself, "Man, I wish my dog would be that good," here my tips for 5 things every dog should know. They are absolutely law around my house and are what make Kodie such a good dog.

Keep an eye on my Examiner.com page in the next few days. I plan to break each step down and give some advice on how to accomplish it. Better yet, visit my page and subscribe to my email and/or add me to your favorite Examiners!

READ by James Shambhu at Morris Book Shop

2009-09-17T09:26:00.003-04:00

I finally made it to Morris Book Shop located at 408 Southland Drive in Lexington, Kentucky to view the mural READ by James Shambhu.

Let me just say...it was well worth the trip.

READ is a stunning mixed media piece that is fantastic not only in size (120" x 60") but in...well...everything else!

As for Morris Book Shop...beware book lovers! I found this little nook charming and stocked full of fantastic reads. I didn't even make it in the door without selecting 3 goodies off the sale rack.

Oh heaven help me for I'm unemployed.

So upon venturing inside I found a great community calendar, staff recommendations, and a super cozy kids section.

Let the children read.

The only thing missing? My wallet full of cash. I promised owner Wyn Morris that I'd be back once I have a job!

Note: Follow Morris Book Shop on Twitter: @morrisbookshop and James Shambhu@jshambhu. And of course me! @jodidthatsme

Got Black-Eyes? Still Ace the Interview.

2009-09-09T12:21:00.002-04:00

I'm a very active individual. And sometimes that can work to my disadvantage. Over the holiday weekend, I was at Brad's house playing with his Boxer, who seems to be notoriously vicious and unruly. I don't see it. I haven't seen it. And I hope I don't ever see it.

He did, however, give me two black eyes that decided to emerge the night before a job interview. [We accidentally butted faces while playing with his toys.]

Great.

I didn't have a choice but to go and hope for the best. Throughout the interview we spoke of experiences, qualifications, and expectations. One of the major expectations is to work directly in the public eye to help Lexintonians use their public service.

Great. They want someone to visit church groups, neighborhood associations, elderly communities, and school groups and they're looking at someone who looks like she's had 4 rounds with Mike Tyson. Except I do still have both of my ears. That's a plus.

So we discussed the usual job interview topics. Then they gave me the opportunity to ask questions. I had several. And finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I just had to say something. It went sorta like this...

"I do have a statement. I must apologize for my black eyes. They may not be that noticeable but I feel like you all are looking at me wondering what in the world happened. I promise, I don't usually have black eyes but I was playing with a friend's dog and we butted heads. Last night the dark circles began to appear and I thought, 'Oh my. This is embarrassing.' so I just want you to know that black eyes aren't a regular occurrence for me."

All three interviewers laughed and said they hadn't even noticed.

Hmmmm...well there I go again. Being way to honest for my own good. In the end it all worked out. I feel like the interview was successful and hope they saw me as an excellent candidate...despite my new facial decorations.

Low cost vaccinations available

2009-09-09T12:19:00.001-04:00

Low cost vaccinations are available the second Sunday of every month...now through December. See how you can keep your pet healthy and your wallet full!

Thursday Night Live

2009-09-08T13:04:00.002-04:00

Spice up your Thursday nights with live music in downtown Lexington during Central Bank's pet friendly Thursday Night Live.

Pet Adoption Day at the Kentucky Horse Park

2009-09-04T08:45:00.003-04:00

If you're looking to add more four-legged love to your family, look no more. The Kentucky Horse Park is hosting its annual Pet Adoption Day this weekend. Click here for more information.

Love Your Pet Day on Meijer Way

2009-09-02T23:37:00.002-04:00

Affordable microchip identification is available for your four-legged family member on Friday, September 18. Visit your Lexington Pets Examiner for more information!

Sniff 'n' Mingle '09

2009-09-02T21:45:00.002-04:00

Looking for a fun Friday frolic with Fido? Visit your Lexington Pets Examiner to learn more about the annual Sniff 'n' Mingle at Joseph-Beth Booksellers.

PS. It's also a great way to support an excellent charity!

3 Places You Can't Take Your Dog

2009-09-02T11:27:00.001-04:00

Check out this article to find out 3 places where your dog isn't welcome in Central Kentucky.

Silly Protesters, Check Your Signs

2009-09-02T10:28:00.007-04:00

I just have to giggle about protesters trying to say English is the only language in the United States; yet they have serious difficulties with it themselves. Perhaps they should go back to English class or try another language.

Mexico City Bans Plastic Bags

2009-08-21T12:19:00.002-04:00

Why is the US so far behind in banning plastic bags? Sure we promote reusable bags now, but we claim we're a forward thinking country, yet some things, are pretty slow going.

Other nations that have addressed plastic bags and either banned them or greatly reduced them? How about China, Tanzania, India, Australia, South Africa, Italy, and Taiwan.

Come on America! Join the leadership on reducing plastic bag production and waste!

America's Uptown Hounds Review: The Check-In

2009-07-21T00:27:00.002-04:00

Check out my latest article on Examiner.com for part one of the America's Uptown Hounds Review: The Check-In.

If you have a dog, you don't want to miss this series!

Your New Lexington Pets Examiner

2009-07-17T08:12:00.002-04:00

I am your new Lexington Pets Examiner. Visit my Examiner page to see the latest activities, events, and other lifestyle opportunities for you and your pet.

Restaurant Debacle

2009-07-08T23:47:00.000-04:00

Apparently restaurants don’t like me. Lately I have been experiencing some issues with eating out.

On July 4^th I had a lovely time watching the city’s parade. Afterwards we planned to get something to eat. Being huge Mexican food junkie, I suggested a good little place in my neck of the woods called Jalapenos. It’s well known and my friends said that would be fine.

We made the drive only to find that restaurant was CLOSED. That’s right, I said CLOSED. C-L-O-S-E-D. I was so disappointed. I got over it. Ate some crappy Applebee’s nachos instead of delicious freshly fried tortilla chips and salsa.

So tonight I had planned to eat Indian food with a friend at a restuarnt that we had never been too before. Banana Leaf…apparently it is the Lexington home of the Mumbai Dosa Marsala. Never had it but I’ve never had any Indian food I didn’t like so we decided to try it.

We were to meet at 7 pm. I pulled up to the restaurant at approximately 6:57 only to find it CLOSED. That’s right, I said CLOSED. C-L-O-S-E-D.

According to their website they are closed until July 29 for vacation.

I’m starting to get a complex. What do you have to do around here to get a meal?

Apparently you have to cook.

Twitter Twicks

2009-07-04T11:51:00.002-04:00

Many of my friends who are also on Twitter have asked me what the heck I’m talking about when I Tweet. Twitter sort of has it’s own language & ways of connecting tweets to one another. It’s these ideas that make Twitter so powerful. For example Twitter can be used to publish press conferences, attend meetings virtually, and discuss topics with people from all over the world in real time.

Here’s a few tips & twicks for using Twitter.

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a social networking site designed to allow multiple users to communicate in real time.

What is on my homepage?

Homepage contains all tweets posted by you and those you follow.

What is a hastag?

Hashtags: ways to connect posts so you can follow a topic in real time. Example: #sytycd in real words is “hashtag so you think you can dance” this is how I discuss the show with folks across the country as the show is happening. I put #sytycd in my post and it is connected to everyone else in the Twittersphere who has added that hashtag to a post.

How do I search a topic or hashtag?

In the right hand column there is a search bar below “favorites”. Enter the item you wish to search. Let’s use the example from above #sytycd. This pulls all the tweets in the world that contain #sytycd.

How do I see real time posts regarding a topic I’m interested in?

If you have searched something that you expect to follow regularly, you can click the “Save this search” link next to the green/white plus sign symbol. It will then appear in the “Saved Searches” column.

Why do some posts have RT @somebodysname in them?

This is called a retweet. It is a compliment to another Tweep. When you retweet, you’re saying, “Hey, I liked this post so much I want to share it with my followers.” The @somebodysname is the person who originally posted it. Sometimes you will see RT and several names…this is the chain that the post has followed. Retweets are sometimes posted with VIA instead of RT. It means the same thing.

What is a mention?

In the right column you will see under “Home” your Twitter username with the @ symbol in front of it. For example, mine says @jodidthatsme. Clicking this will show you all the posts in the Twittersphere that “mentions” your username. You use this tool to see if folks are retweeting your posts or answering your questions.

How do I ask someone a question?

-You can do this two ways. If you want to ask someone a question that is not information you want to share with the Twittersphere, send them a Direct Message. However, sometimes you want to ask a question that you know your followers may also be interested in. For example, I recently asked a tweep about an iPhone app. See below for the chain:
-I posted “@mdclarke What is the app called on iPhone that tells you the song/artisit when you hold it up to music?
-One of my follows replied “@jodidthatsme shazam! J”
-Mdclarke later replied “@jodidthatsme SHAZAM [link to app] and it’s AMAZING!
-I asked this question via my updates because I thought my followers may also be interested in this app.

What if I want to post a link? They’re way too long and take up too many characters.

Use the website www.tinyurl.com to create a shorter URL.

What if I want to post a picture?

Anyone with a Twitter account can post a picture via Twitpics at twitpics.com. The post will automatically appear in your twitter account.

What if I can’t say something in 140 characters?

Twitlonger.com is a site that posts your Tweet up to 140 characters and adds a link to the rest of the text. If you Tweet from twitlonger it automatically is posted to your Twitter account. Anyone with a Twitter account can login to twitlonger.com.

Pajama Snob

2009-07-03T22:52:00.002-04:00

I have realized that I am now a pajama snob. I'm not sure how to feel about it.

I remember the days of throwing on the closest t-shirt when I was getting ready for bed. Or worse, just rippin' the pants off and sleeping in whatever was left on.

I don't know what it means but those days are over.

I now have pajamas for every season and they are all rated in my mind for comfort, coolness/warmth, and handiness.

For example, I have a shorts & shirt set made of a satiny-silky material that ranks high in the comfort and coolness categories but fails miserably in handiness. With all those darn buttons, it's difficult to put on when I'm tired. I inevitably mismatch the buttons to the button holes and end up with the whole thing whopper-jawed.

I have winter flannel, fall sheer, and summer tanks. I have some that are see through and aren't fit for going out on the deck in and I have some that could just about pass for clothes.

Do you see? Do you see what's happened to me? I'm officially a pajama snob. I'll walk around for an hour looking for the exact pajama set that I'd like to wear. In the meantime, has anyone seen my other shoe?

Delicious Pineapple Dip

2009-07-02T23:10:00.002-04:00

Here's a super simple recipe for pineapple dip that is a great summer snack. I'll give the real recipe with the healthy modifications in brackets.

1/2 large can of crushed pineapple with juice

1/2 box (dry) vanilla pudding [sugar-free pudding]

1 box cream cheese, soften to room temperature [fat-free/low-fat cream cheese]

Mix all ingredients together. Let stand for at least 30 minutes before serving. I serve with graham cracker sticks for dipping.

Enjoy!

Emergency Services Please!

2009-06-22T21:24:00.003-04:00

Help! Send in emergency insulin and a dentist! I'm eating cotton candy and I can't stop myself. I guess I'll stop when I hit diabetic shock and pass out. LOL!

Super Yummy Pasta Salad

2009-06-22T20:34:00.002-04:00

I make pasta salad all the time. It's one of those easy things that you can take to work for lunch that's tasty and healthy. Well, definitely healthy and sometimes tasty. Sometimes not.

Tonight I made my favorite pasta salad yet. I'm posting the ingredients in case anyone else is interested or in case I forget where I stored the recipe.

Note: All amounts are guesstimated as I never measure anything when making pasta salad. I just throw it all together and eat.

2 cups cooked whole wheat pasta

1 cup cooked black-eyed peas

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 cup cut fresh spinach

2 cloves garlic

¼ cup chopped green olives

1 tablespoon lime juice

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

¼ cup chopped fresh chives

½ cup peas

12-15 cherry tomatoes, quartered

choice of cheese for topping prior to serving

Mix and EAT!

10 Sure-Fire Steps to Freaking Yourself Out on the Internet

2009-06-11T00:03:00.001-04:00

Step 1: Publish a blog post

Step 2: Go to twitter.com [oh, I’m already logged on here?]

Step 3: Follow links on someone you’re following and decide to “follow” his blog

Step 4: Why do all the blogs I’m following pop up in Google Reader?

Step 5: Click, yes I want to follow this blog or whatever the verbiage is.

Step 6: Return to personal blog

Step 7: Make a confused look on your face as to why the new blog follow is now on the dashboard of your blog. I thought I was following it on Google Reader.

Step 8: Stare at the wall in confusion for approximately 1 min. 23 sec. before realizing all the sites you just visited must be partners or at least flow fluidly through each other to sites you were already logged into.

Step 9: Breathe a sigh of relief and giggle out loud at yourself.

Step 10: Publish a new blog post about your stupidity.

#SYTYCD - Jodidthatsme Style

2009-06-10T23:33:00.002-04:00

Now that I’ve been Twitterfied I can’t watch SYTYCD on DVR anymore. I caught the tail end of the live stream on Twitter and about went crazy not knowing what they were talking about…and not being able to throw my two cents into the mix.

So I decided to blog my comments…not that anyone really cares but I still wanted to do it. These are my thoughts as I’m watching the routine. Literally, I was typing while looking at the TV. It’s not dancing but it is a talent! [I guess]

Phillip & Janine: Hip Hop

Freakin’ nailed it. Dude, white-girl can hip-hop. What a brilliant routine Napoleon & Tabitha.

Asuka & Vitolio: Broadway

Asuka just shines on stage. Adorable, Tice. I don’t think Vitolio matched Auska.

Karla & Jonathan: Cha Cha

Dude, rockin’ song. Lady Gaga. Great style. Stop with all the lighting effects. I want to see the dancing. I liked what I could see. I wasn’t screaming but I was so distracted with the lights.

Randi & Evan: Jazz

I already love Evan with his pre-performance comments. Real connection. I think Evan outshined Randi slightly. Her hair in her face is driving me crazy.

Paris & Tony: Hip Hop

Both pretty good. Paris has more expression. I also really think I love the Black Eyed Peas. Why don’t I have any of their stuff?

Caitlin & Jason: Bollywood

I love that we have this style on this show! Gorgeous lift. Caitlin is precise. Jason is good but not as sharp. He has weak arms. Overall I really enjoyed this!

Janette & Brandon: Foxtrot

Maintaining a good hold. Very expressive. Effortless. I like them! Whoa! She really did fly in that lift.

Ashley & Kupono: Jazz

Crash Test Dummies? WTF? Wow, this is going to be very interesting. Great lines from Kupono. Super animation from Ashley. Love it. Quirky, interesting, and creative. I love Wade.

Melissa & Ade: Contemporary

I like that Melissa is in an environment that she feels “old” at 29. That was me in college. “Pic down” – great quote Mandy. Gorgeous together, they are. Amazing legs and feet on Melissa. She is like a spider monkey climbing on him. He’s a STRONG partner.

Kayla & Max: Samba

OMG, I love Max already. They are both hot. Kayla has got the Latin sex appeal in her dance already. Gorgeous lines, arms, legs. I hated the music and that surprises me.

On other notes:

I want to hate Mary Murphy but she is fabulously annoying. I just love her! Loved the Botox comment. J

Don't Pledge Your Floors

2009-06-10T00:44:00.003-04:00

Take it from me, DON'T PLEDGE YOUR FLOORS. And don't Endust, Old English, or Dust-Off them.

I had this brilliant idea when I realized I was out of Swiffer Dry Wipes, which I love. Then I decided rather than go buy more I can "just make my own reuseable wipe."

This is the part of the post that I like to call: When Good Ideas Go Bad.

I proceeded to fashion a cleaning cloth around my Swiffer device with safety pins. I took my newly developed contraption out to the deck where I promptly spray it with an off-brand, Pledge-like product. I proceeded to clean my floors with glee. After the dry dusting I then used the Swiffer Wet product to "mop" the floor.

Later in the evening as I stood in the kitchen gazing across my newly cleaned floors, I thought they really seemed shiny. I was so proud. No trash, no cost, no problem.

And then I walked to the bedroom, turned the corner, and nearly broke my neck. Thank goodness I was barefoot. Had I been wearing socks? Definitely 12 weeks of traction and a possible limp for the rest of days here on Earth.

Miguel's Pizza in the Red River Gorge

2009-06-09T18:27:00.001-04:00

I don't know what they're doing with this commercial other than creating online buzz...but I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I happen to LOVE Miguel's Pizza with an fresh-from-the-river Ale 8 One.

It's Getting Squirrelly Over Here

2009-05-28T11:48:00.001-04:00

This vacation week is getting more and more interesting. I had planned to work at the farm and participate in several things that seem to have fizzled. Because there has been just enough rain to screw up work at the farm, I have been spending a lot more time at the house that I had anticipated.

Now this isn’t all bad. I’ve spent a lot of time tending my flowers and doing projects around the house that I can still do even if it rains. However, this morning I realized perhaps I’m spending a little too much time at home.

Today I had a conversation with a squirrel in a tree.

I found the little bushy-tailed beast eating my newly planted flowers. Or so I thought.

I asked the dog to chase it out of the flowers but when she looked at me in complete disbelief I realized someone must have forgotten to tell her she’s a dog. So I went out to do the job myself.

As I approached the tree with distinct purpose, the squirrel ran up the tree. I realized it had not been eating my flowers but only something that it had found nearby. Still, I watched as it zoomed up the tree and stopped on one of the tippy-top branches looking down at me quizzically.

I realized I should be a little nicer so I simply said, “Please don’t eat my flowers or my vegetables.”

It cocked its head listening.

I continued, “You can live in my yard but please don’t eat anything I’ve put a lot of work into.”

It blinked, chattered, and flicked its ear.

Satisfied that we had come to an understanding, I headed back to the deck and my book.

Looking over the yard, I found Kodie standing guard under the tree while the squirrel chattered its gripes.

Great, I thought. Now she’s ready to protect my flowers.

“Never mind,” I said in disgust. “I’ve already handled it.”

Welcome Home Lily!

2009-05-23T21:25:00.002-04:00

For those of you not from the Lexington, KY area, we have a very "fun" waste management program. We have a whole family of waste containers. And I just welcomed home the newest member.

First, let me introduce you to the rest of the receptacle family. Herbie is the green garbage container. Rosie is the blue recycling receptacle. Lenny is the gray yard waste container. And now...we have LILY! A raintainer!!

If you live in Lexington, KY, own the property where you will install Lily, and agree to take occasional surveys about her use, you can qualify to purchase a Lily for $75. She comes with a soaker hose spigot, regular fill spigot, overflow attachment, lid for a potted plant and a wick to draw water from the barrel into the potted plant.

This is a great way to save water while doing your summer watering and reduce the amount of water run-off into the sewer system. I can't wait to install Lily and get some rain. I'll keep you updated on how she's doing.

If you're interested in your own Lily, click the link in the title of this post.

Mirror of a Sad State

2009-05-17T21:52:00.003-04:00

I had a great day at the High Hope Steeplechase today at the Kentucky Horse Park. It was very tiring being outside all day and as soon as I got home I fell asleep.

I woke up about 9 pm groggy and starving. Rather than cooking, I decided to go grab something to eat. I backed out of the garage and in my groggy, calorie-deficient state, smashed the side mirror into the side of the garage. Then, just to make sure I smashed it really good, I pulled forward, wondered a moment how on earth I freaking did that, then put it in reverse and DID IT AGAIN! The poor mirror is in a sad state. That's the last time I try to drive tired and hungry.

Sagging Side Walls

2009-05-14T22:20:00.002-04:00

To give you a little background, one of my neighbors has enough junk in his back yard to recycle itself into a small city. Some of the debris includes, several air conditioners, several empty air conditioner cases, a number of unidentified objects beneath tarps, 12.7 ladders, a riding lawn mower, 2 buildings for more crap, and one tarp structure. This property is not very popular in the neighborhood.

Last year I planted trees that will eventual be a visual block. However, that doesn't stop the mosquitoes. I want a bat house so bad but good grief they're expensive.

I've digressed. The purpose of this post was to describe what I saw earlier today. I feel like the junky neighbor was trying to "clean" the place up a bit. He began [and ended] with the tarp structure. To add to the ambiance of the area, the tarp structure walls had began to sag in several places. This was his first [and last] plan of attack. He propped up the sagging side walls with duct tape and a hole punch.

Oh yeah, it looks much better now. Thanks dude.

iTunes Genius

2009-05-13T22:22:00.002-04:00

iTunes Genius, where have you been my whole iTunes life?

I just discovered iTunes Genius, which creates playlists based on a single song selection. The first playlist I listened to brought up a bunch of songs that I forgot I even had. I really get in a musical routine and listen to the same old tunes every evening.

If you haven't tried it, do it. You just might like it.

[Note: Nevermind. I'm probably the only person in the world that had never tried it.]

Spic & Span iBook

2009-05-13T22:16:00.004-04:00

I just cleaned up my laptop, which is an iBook G4...old school. It was running a bit slow and I was thinking, "Well, it's just old."

But WOOHOO! I cleaned up the hard drive, removing 1 gazillion photos sure helped, and VOILA! It works good as new now.

If you're having trouble with your computer running sluggishly, just clean up your hard drive. It will work wonders. It's something I never think about until my darn computer is running so slow I can barely use it.

Happiness

2009-05-13T07:22:00.001-04:00

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

-Nathaniel Hawthorne

Electric Lawn Mower Advice

2009-05-04T13:48:00.003-04:00

Anybody have any advice on electric lawn mowers? I'm considering one for the following reasons but hope I'm not misunderstanding them.

I need a backup for my reel mower.
It will not be difficult to start like a gas engine mower.
It is quieter.
It will be easier to maintain.

Now for the potential cons.

I'll have to deal with an extension cord.
It's heavy.

Anyone have any opinions?? I've never used one before.

The Price of Tomatoes

2009-04-21T22:48:00.002-04:00

Slavery is an outdated, old-fashioned concept, right? Hardly. I recently read yet another good article on the horrific issue of modern-day slavery.

Gourmet Magazine recently printed an article in their March 2009 issue describing the lifestyle of tomato pickers in Florida. Migrant workers endure ridiculous conditions by which they are bound financially, forever struggling to gain their freedom. I don't care if they're "legal" or not. People should not be treated this way. They're trying to make a living to feed their families and get sucked into scams with little to no protection or recourse.

It happens people. All the time. And there is something you can do about it.

Buy local. Eat seasonal. Period.

Kodie - The Party Dog

2009-04-19T19:08:00.006-04:00

Last night Kodie and I met some fantastic folks from Trail Talk at the Red River Gorge for an evening of fire, conversation, and fresh air. I half-heartedly stated that I needed to go back to town so I could be at work by 11:30 am, despite the fact that I had brought my sleeping bag and sleeping pad.

Throughout the evening the realization that I didn't want to go home nor would I, came to pass. The notorious gear-rich Windigrrl offered me her new tent to stay in for the night. I happily accepted her offer.

After some minor interruptions, Kodie and I dozed within the confines of the tent, eventually listening to the sound of a rain shower delicately tap the rainfly.

Thanks to Stomper's suggestion, I had set the alarm clock on my cell phone to ensure my early departure. After three snoozes I began to rustle in my bag not wanting to get up. Kodie stirred slightly and I began to scratch her lightly.

Soon she rolled over and put her nose at the zipper. When I didn't move, she stood. I lazily said, "Kodie I'm not quite ready to....OH MY GOD YOU'RE GOING TO BARF!"

I jumped up as best I could with my sleeping bag wrapped around my waist turning me into a mermaid and wiggled over to the door. I quickly wrestled with the zipper, which I'm sure was a comical sight from the outside the tent. After opening the door I lifted the fly so Kodie could run out into the open before projectile vomit occurred. She ran under the fly and proceeded to hurl.

I managed to un-mermaid myself and get my thoughts to together. My first thought was being thankful that my dog had not yacked in Windigrrl's new tent. Thank you Lord. Next I found my shoes and went out to inspect what had made my dog sick.

I chuckled as I found a small pile of partially digested hay lying among the leaves of the forest. The remnants of Kodie's cow dung gorge the day before.

That's my party/farm dog...eat poop 'til you hurl.

Ale 8 One Jam

2009-04-19T10:42:00.004-04:00

I have been appropriately scolded for not posting here. So this is my very important first post in a long time.

Ale 8 One Country Strawberry Jam freaking rocks.

So there it is folks. I know you're glad to have me back to this incredible, life changing blog. :)

Great News!

2009-03-05T20:05:00.003-05:00

The camel baby, Joey, received his plasma transfusion today and it was a success. Although he was apparently very feisty and was compared to his...ahem...father. You all might remember his father by this post and this post.

Ok, so he yanked his IV out once or twice...maybe three times. So he is now demanding warm milk constantly. So he stands up by himself and dances the jig across the stall while smoking a cigar.

I'm still not convinced that he is like his father. I still think he's going to grow up to be a dear sweet camel and you will soon find us riding off into the sunset.

Here are a couple of shots from his trip to the hospital.

Note: I plan to spend the night with him tomorrow night so I can do all of his night feedings. I will have lots of pictures later in the weekend. He's 8 days old already!

Feeding Your Baby Camel

2009-03-05T19:20:00.002-05:00

If you happen to have a baby camel, you might need to know what to feed him.

First it is extremely important that you let the folks who own the farm think it is their camel. This will enable you stay at home in bed when you come down with the North African Camel Flu...or the sniffles, whichever.

Camels cannot be raised on calf or foal replacement. They must be fed lamb milk replacement from a bottle. At birth they will need a horse-sized teat as a cow's is too large.

Soon your camel will begin to eat ridiculous portions of milk. At first his cute little 8 oz will astound you and cause you to say coochy coochy coo every time you see a photograph of him. In just a matter of a few days, he will eat so much so often that you'll begin to argue over who has to take a turn at feeding him. His hunger will soon need to be satisfied every 3 hours instead of every 6-8 hours.

At this point, it is highly recommended that you take your sleeping bag and just sleep in the barn on the weekends. It is also my understanding that sleeping in the barn will cure North African Camel Flu.

Camel Baby at 4 days old

2009-03-02T23:08:00.002-05:00

The camel baby is doing pretty well despite poor blood work. He will get a plasma transfusion later in the week to boost his non-existent immune system. He's still a lot of fun. Here he is having his first meal standing up.

Here he is making a couple of silly faces.Here he is taking a nap on me.And finally, here is one of him and Kodie. She is enamored with him. Anytime she is in the stall she obsessively licks his face. After a couple of minutes of that, he is so annoyed with her licking that he tried to get up, which is great because prior to his first standing meal, he didn't have much incentive to stand.

Camel Baby Has Arrived!

2009-02-26T00:04:00.005-05:00

The first camel baby of the season has arrived at the farm! I'm tickled pink with him. Unfortunately mother camel suffered some pretty serious complications, but the vet did give us hope that she'll be able to pull through. The next 7-10 days will be important for her. Baby camel has about 3 days before he's in the clear.

So far baby is doing great but because of mother's complications she can't nurse him right now. Tonight we milked her and bottle fed him colostrum.

I'll try to keep updates on them both.

Here he is at 4 hours old.

Here's mama looking for her baby.

Keep your fingers crossed she recovers well.

Quotes

2009-02-03T14:17:00.002-05:00

I was perusing some quotes today at work for some ideas for a magazine article I'm writing, and found a few that really made me chuckle.

A woman needs two animals - the horse of her dreams and a jackass to pay for
it. ~Author Unknown

If the world was truly a rational place, men would ride sidesaddle. ~Rita Mae Brown

It's a lot like nuts and bolts - if the rider's nuts, the horse bolts! ~Nicholas Evans

If you want a stable friendship, get a horse. ~Author Unknown

New Profile Photo

2009-01-30T13:30:00.004-05:00

You may notice that I have a new profile photo. This was taken when we were out shooting winter scenes. Photo by James Shambhu.

Someone's been sleeping in my bed...

2009-01-29T20:22:00.002-05:00

Now that we're refugees, things are different. It's a little harder to distinguish what is ours and what is not. Hence the following picture. I came into the "bedroom" [the sunroom] and found someone sleeping in my bed!

More Shots of the Winter Storm

2009-01-29T19:22:00.007-05:00

I've been out taking photos again. I found some more scenic shots away from my house and injured trees. Enjoy!

Winter Storm 2009

2009-01-28T21:17:00.004-05:00

Many of you may know that Kentucky is crippled with a winter storm right now. My backyard has tree limbs and power lines down, no electricity, and most importantly, no internet. :)

After a full day of being wrapped in a cocoon of blankets and sleeping, I couldn't take it any more. I grabbed the phone book and began looking up numbers for hotels. Through this process it suddenly dawned on me that we have a private club at work that is currently closed for the season. IF the building has electricity, it would have hot showers, TV, heat, and....INTERNET!

So I called the park police to see if there was power. JACKPOT! Here I am, camped out on the floor of the club after a nice hot shower, watching a movie and blogging about the storm that has occurred over the last 48 hours.

Here are a few shots. If it wasn't so destructive it could be quite scenic.

Yes, that is ALL ice! And then we got 2-3 inches of snow after about 24 hours of ice.

And now my beautiful tree is injured. I hope it can be saved. When I fled earlier this evening it wasn't split so I'm hopeful.

Another New Template

2009-01-26T22:41:00.002-05:00

Here another new template that I'm considering. Yet, I'm also considering going back to the old template. When I look at my blog now I wonder to whom it belongs.

I'm starting to miss my brown. What do you think?

I Am David

2009-01-26T22:35:00.002-05:00

If you've never seen the movie I Am David, go watch it. It is about a boy who was essentially raised in a communist concentration camp. He escapes and you follow the journey of his freedom...in so many ways.

Congrats Katie Stam of Indiana!

2009-01-24T22:00:00.002-05:00

Ok, I admit it. I watched a couple episodes of Miss America: Countdown to the Crown on TLC this morning. I watched most of the competition tonight in between doing other things.

I'm very glad Katie Stam of Indiana won. I really liked her and she didn't sound like a total ditz.

Newscast at a Sledding Hill

2009-01-24T10:48:00.001-05:00

This video is HIL-LAR-IOUS. I think the funniest part for me is the reporter's realization of what a bad idea it was. Enjoy!

Do You Like My Template?

2009-01-23T19:18:00.001-05:00

For some reason I logged on today and decided I wanted to change my template. I'm having trouble deciding between this one and one with green polka dots. I'll leave this one for a couple of days and then go to the polka dots and my faithful readers can tell me what they prefer...all 2 of you! LOL.

Casey Camel Update

2009-01-18T23:48:00.002-05:00

Casey is still doing ok. She's getting up on her own but unfortunately her sweet temperament is a thing of the past. She's been cooped up for nearly a month and her disposition has changed to Miss Grouchy Camel.

I went for a visit today. She has a most excellent blanket to help keep her warm. Jason managed to connect two blankets together and tie them under her so they don't fall off. It's really quite impressive, when she isn't spitting at you.

Why I Like Winter

2009-01-18T23:44:00.002-05:00

One reason I really like winter is that I'm an excellent housekeeper. When there aren't distractions like flowers, vegetable gardens, decks, and sunshine, I really keep a nice house. Today I cleaned and organized all my downstairs closets. That includes getting those plastic drawer-things on wheels and organizing everything.

Now it is delightful to open a closet door instead of anxiety-inducing with the fear that something will fall out and give me a concussion.

Oh, one more reason I like winter. You can sit down to watch a movie and when you get up to let your dog outside the back yard may be covered in snow. :) Glad I'm off tomorrow. There might be some shoveling and playing to do!

Casey the Camel Update

2009-01-12T21:31:00.002-05:00

I've had a request for updates on Casey the Dear Sweet Camel turned Extraordinarily Grouchy Camel Because of No-No the Big Fat Jerk Camel.

Well, you get the point.

I went to visit Casey yesterday and to try to bribe her back into our good graces with carrots. It sort of worked.

Poor Casey is in the barn and spends most of her time lying in the stall. Until today she had to be helped to her feet...but today she STOOD UP ON HER OWN! Yeah, I know it was the carrots.

Now you might ask, exactly how do you work with a camel who doesn't want to stand but must for rehabilitation purposes? It's not pretty...mostly from her end. Camels spit. Camels spit a lot when they are distressed, angry or feel threatened. A camel with an injured spine spits for all of the above, which means she can work up spit from pouches in herself unknown to mankind. [I have to admit that an ulterior motive of the carrots was also to make her spitting a little "fresher" let's say.]

I wasn't really sure if it would work, but I did receive a call this evening that Casey was slightly easier to deal with because of the carrots I left her. In between the unpleasantness of the blanket covering her head to deflect the spit and her medical treatments, the rehabilitation crew was able to see her with happy faces. The carrots make her happy. Yeah!

The vet has ordered her to stall rest for 30 days with "strongly encouraged" standing sessions until she is willing to stand on her own. So I'll be out to visit her again this weekend with a couple pounds of carrots. I hope her progress continues. Today was promising. Keep your fingers crossed.

Note: She is "strongly encouraged" to stand with slings attached to a forklift. By no means is she harmed. Like most rehabilitation and physical therapy there is some unpleasantness; in this case, resulting in large quantities of spit.

Casey on your mind.

2009-01-06T22:07:00.002-05:00

Please keep Casey, my favorite camel, in your thoughts. She's really, really sick and they think No-no the big fat jerk may have hurt her. She's not doing well.

I'm hoping to go see her tomorrow. I'm sure my scratches and baby carrots will help her heal. :)

13 Years Ago Today

2009-01-06T21:51:00.002-05:00

Today is my 13th anniversary of moving to Kentucky. When I packed up my 1985 Chevy Celebrity I was hoping Kentucky would change my life...and oh, has it ever.

I love living here. Will I forever? I'm not sure but I sure do love it now. Here are some really fun/cool things I can think of that I've done or seen in the last 13 years. [in no particular order]

Watched a buffalo's birth
Foaled many a mares
Rode an American Mustang down Pennsylvania Avenue for Clinton's inauguration
Exercised horses in the mountains of Southern California
Narrowly escaped being raped/killed by a camel
Worked at Disney World
Watched a Walking Stick in the Red River Gorge
Learned to Ballroom Dance, pretty doggone good I might add
Partied in the streets for UK Basketball National Championship win
Mowed with a batwing
Raised 4 goslings
Passed with my dog through the Therapy Dog Certification Test
Became friends with Frosty the Snowman
Learned & watched how [very old] remains are excavated by archeologists
Attended a dinner at the Governor's Mansion
Reunited a baby wildebeest with its mother
[Attempted to] Whitewater Kayak
Touched a wild pony on the AT in Grayson Highlands
Visited New York City
Lived in Chile for 8 weeks
Bought a house
Repelled in the Red River Gorge

I know that's not the full list but it's what I can think of right now.

Thank you Kentucky.

Birdcage and Ugly Couch

2008-12-27T21:39:00.002-05:00

I got something else for myself. A birdcage! I've wanted one for a very long time but they are rather expensive. This was one of those "after Christmas" bargains I guess because it was cheap.

I totally love it. Along with my hideous couch. Some of you may have heard me talk about my hideous couch and how much I love it. Really. I love my couch. You can also see it in the shot. Lucky you. :)

A New Bathroom

2008-12-27T21:31:00.005-05:00

Although I was supposed to be Christmas shopping for others, after I crossed off all the things on my list I bought a bunch of stuff for me. I cursed myself and whined about all the money I spent but once I got home and put up all my new bathroom stuffed I was really quite excited.

I've lived in my house and I have never put anything up in the bathroom. It has consisted of multi [ugly] colored hand-me-down towels and wash cloths. A clear plastic shower curtain and an ugly basket to hold my junk.

But now, thanks to my friend Chris, my credit card and Gordman's, I have a real bathroom. Here it is! I love it!

These are the boxes to put my stuff in and still make it look somewhat tidy. You can't tell from the picture but they are three different colors that don't match but still go with my shower curtain. Most of you know how much I hate "matchy matchy."

I'm a Big Girl Now

2008-12-27T21:06:00.006-05:00

This year I was informed by my mother that I was to do my own Christmas shopping. [my family celebrates Christmas at New Year's] For the past 5-6 years, my mom has done all my Christmas shopping, wrapped all the presents and all I have done is write her a check after it's all over.

This year it did not happen.

Now for those of you who know me, you know how much I despise shopping. I was not looking forward to this task. However, my friend Chris from work decided to take me shopping and "show me the ropes." She's a hard core shopper.

We had the day planned to purchase the gifts I need, then go to Build-A-Bear, and then have lunch at The Pub. So that's exactly what we did. Here is my new friend from Build-A-Bear.

So showing the bunny that I chose, stuffed, and "air bathed" might have canceled the "big girl" statement. Either way it was a fun day. My shopping is done and so is half of my wrapping. This is a first!

My Regular Life

2008-12-24T00:06:00.002-05:00

Ok, I've dusted off the cobwebs from this blog-thing that I vaguely remember doing something with a while back. Now that the Southern Lights Indoor Attractions have closed for 2008, I can have my regular life back.

I hope to make several posts in the next few weeks. If there's anyone still around here...here..ere..re.re. By the sound of that echo there really isn't. I'll work on some posts anyway.

And by the way, today is Christmas Eve Eve. :)

I LOVE THIS SONG!

2008-12-14T11:21:00.001-05:00

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas Lyrics

SING ALONG!

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
Don't want a doll, no dinky Tinker Toy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don't think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won't have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door,
that's the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, no rhinoceroses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too

(Short Music Interlude)

Mom says the hippo would eat me up, but then
Teacher says a hippo is a vegeterian

(Short Music Interlude)

There's lots of room for him in our two-car garage
I'd feed him there and wash him there and give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning,
creeping down the stairs
Oh what joy and what surprise
when I open up my eyes
to see a hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me too!

Kodie's Resume

2008-12-02T12:45:00.001-05:00

I posted this bit on the American Indian Dog forum and thought it was worth a post here...I know it's bragging, but hey, Kodie deserves some bragging!

Kodie's resume is shaping up nicely!

Completed 4th Level Obedience
Experienced Backpacker
Certified Therapy Dog
Office Dog
Buffalo Farming Dog
Future Herding Dog

Wow, seeing all that makes me feel like I should go to graduate school so I can keep up with my dog's academics! hahahaha

Kodie the Therapy Dog - Visit #1

2008-12-01T22:37:00.004-05:00

I think I've already posted at some point that Kodie passed her Therapy Dog Certification with Love on a Leash. I'm pleased to tell you that we completed our very first visit tonight.

We went to a nursing home here in Lexington and Kodie was unbelievable. In fact, all of the other handlers couldn't believe it was her first visit. She was so attentive, quiet, and calm that she showed up some of the other dogs! Everyone got a good laugh and when their dog did something less than desirable they'd laugh and say, "Take notes from Kodie!"

Of course that doesn't mean she was perfect. :) In one of the first rooms she got a little confused. True to her training but confused about what I was asking. Because she is a little short, sometimes it was difficult for the resident to reach her. So I lightly tapped on the bed to get her to put her chin on the side. However, I failed to remember that that is the cue for "jump up" and she faithfully jumped right up on the bed of the resident. Yikes! That may be ok in some facilities with younger stronger folks, but the people were way too fragile for a 40 lb dog jumping on them! As soon as her toes hit the bed I scooped her up and put her back on the floor. Shoo, no harm done. And I do have to say that I really appreciated her attempt to be reachable.

As I mentioned earlier she behaved beautifully. However, that doesn't mean that any of the dogs were unruly or anything. Everyone was very good. It was just surprising to the rest of the group [and some extent me] how wonderfully behaved and comfortable Kodie was. I'm so pleased and proud that she is my dog. I can't wait for more visits!

Great Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T21:48:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone has had a great Thanksgiving Day. I certainly have. I went to my friend's farm and rode my favorite horse...for hours. First I rode with my friend for a while, then he had to get back to make the oyster stuffing, which was his contribution to the Tday dinner. Considering I haven't been on Jake since...well, since, well a really long time, I wasn't ready to put him away. So me, my favorite dog Kodie, and my favorite horse Jake went to the back side of the property and rode for another hour or so.

After I finished up in the barn we went to stuff ourselves with a delicious home-cooked Thanksgiving Dinner. Oh my, I'm still miserable. Everything was fab-u-lous.

It was a lovely day that I will always be thankful for...and I've decided to make a point to go up and get my "horse fix" more often than once a year.

I think I may even camp up there on Christmas...hmmmm...should it be Christmas Eve? I'll decide later.

As usual, I now have to apologize for not posting to this blog often enough. Sorry, and thanks for reading when I do post. :)

Laryngitis

2008-11-11T19:34:00.002-05:00

The dreams of my friends and family have come true. I have laryngitis.

That's right. And I'm not talking.

So there. :)

Dachshund Facts

2008-11-02T20:04:00.003-05:00

Did you know that the word Dachshund means "badger hound?"

Who would ever think that a face like this....

....was made to attack a face like this?

Fascinating. And I love Animal Planet.

Beetle Invasion

2008-10-22T21:49:00.002-04:00

I've heard a lot lately about the dangers of transporting firewood from one location to another. And, although I understand that it can spread voracious insects that destroy forests, it was all still a little abstract to me.

However, I just read the article on kentucky.com about the Asian Longhorned Beetle and it's all a little more clear now.

So please read the article and take it seriously. Foreign pests and diseases can literally destroy species of trees in a short amount of time. Take Dutch Elm's Disease for example...yeah, mega damage.

And please don't transport firewood.

Facebook Rocks. Period.

2008-10-19T21:44:00.002-04:00

For all the adjectives about Facebook that I have heard of the years, none of which are fit for this blog, I say...WHO CARES! It allows me to meet up and communicate with people that I haven't seen in 13-15 years!

Uptown Hounds - Member Benefits

2008-10-18T06:46:00.002-04:00

So I've already completed the paperwork to become an Uptown Hounds member. Below are the reasons why.

It is owned/created by a local entrepreneur
You can spend time in a public place with your dog
You can meet new people with similar interests
You can use the training facilities including agility equipment
You can use the play yard & pool out back
You are invited to special member events i.e. the dinner I went to last night [see here]
You have access to training classes
It's conveniently located
Discounts on the hotel & salon
You can use a really nice conference room
Everyone is super nice
I am totally confident that if I take Kodie to the salon she WILL NOT come home with fleas, unlike the one and only time I've ever taken her to a groomer
It is a great value for someone like me who spends a lot of time training and socializing my dog
It is not foofy dogs with rhinestones & glitter, it's real dogs [although they do have rhinestones & glitter if that's what you're into]
It is a gorgeous facility
And last but not least, IT'S JUST A REALLY COOL PLACE!

Uptown Hounds Dinner - Review

2008-10-18T06:14:00.005-04:00

At the risk of being a foofy dog owner, I'm becoming an Uptown Hounds Member.

[and by the way, it doesn't mean you're a foofy dog owner]

Last night Kodie and I attended a Member Dinner there and I had a blast. And it ended up to be an extremely small world. I sat at a table with a lovely couple who, we discovered, had Kentucky Horse Park connections, Versailles connections, and Best Friends Obedience connections. I don't think I even have to say that we had plenty to talk about throughout the dinner.

I also discovered that the woman with whom I've been emailing about the event boards her horse at a friend of mine's place. She also knows my two friends from Michigan!

Here we are with our dogs enjoying the main course.

There were about 12 people there and I think 13 dogs. Here were the menus:

PEOPLE MENU:

Salad of Apples, Caramelized Walnuts, and Cheese, with Apple Cedar Vinaigrette
Papperdalle with Braised Leeks and White Wine Sauce
Roast of Beef with Garlic Bourbon Jus
Baked Cinnamon Sugar Apple with Crumbs and Cream

CANINE MENU:
Chicken with Rice and Vegetables
Oat and Apple Napoleon

And it was even more delicious than it sounds.

And I have to tell on Kodie - lil' miss I eat everything and sometimes have to visit Dr. Eckert because I eat everything - who didn't eat everything. She daintily picked the chicken out of the main dish and left the carrots and the rice. It took her about 15 minutes to do that. This is the same dog that I had to spoon feed the special diet to after she ate the Bluejay because she inhaled it so fast I was afraid she would choke. Remember that?

However, like me, she polished off her dessert without hesitation. :)

[I'll post about the benefits of Uptown Hounds membership separately.]

What's Wrong With Him?

2008-10-18T06:01:00.002-04:00

I work with a fellow who simply cracks me up. A while back we were walking in together from the parking lot. As we approached the building he stopped, gazing into the reflection he found on the doors.

"What?" I asked.

To which he replied, " Sometimes I stop and see myself in the doors and I have to ask What's Wrong With Me?"

I about lost it. I was like, "What's wrong with you? What on earth do you mean?" It made me smile on a regular basis for several days following.

So yesterday I was walking to the parking lot and the same fellow was a fair distance in front of me. As he was on the brink of stepping from the sidewalk to the lot, he stopped, stared at the ground for quite some time, jostled his body with what appeared to be a hearty laugh, and moved on towards his car.

As I approached the lot, he looked at me and laughed. Loudly.

I looked around and then down at myself and my dog wondering, "What's Wrong With Me?"

He continued to laugh as he walked over to me while I asked him, "What? What's so funny? Is there something I don't know?"

In between laughs he said, "I don't know what this means but I just noticed, right now, that I've been wearing two different shoes all day. What does that mean? What does that say about me?"

Oh boy. I then joined his laughter and quickly told him it was something I had to blog about.

So at least yesterday, we discovered What Was Wrong With Him.

My Dinner Date

2008-10-16T22:57:00.003-04:00

I have a dinner date tomorrow night. With whom, you might ask.

KODIE!

We're going to Uptown Hounds in Lexington for dinner tomorrow night. That's right the price includes one human dinner and one canine dinner.

At first I wasn't going to let Kodie have the canine dinner of chicken and rice because she's not allowed to have any people food. Then the ladies at work guilted me into allowing her to have it. I'm going to forget the rule for one special night....BUT....she's NOT sitting at the table and if she barfs she'll never have it again!

I'm such a mean mom.

So, the batteries in the camera are charged and we're ready to go. And Kodie's already thinking that she doesn't have a thing to wear.

Photoshop Presents

2008-10-16T22:53:00.002-04:00

I'm very excited about the Photoshop class I've been taking. We're supposed to come up with a project to work on and I finally decided that mine would be to do something with some photos of a very ill family member.

I had no idea exactly what I would do. Well, really I didn't have any ideas at all.

But tonight in class I figured it out! I'm very excited. I think they will be the best Christmas presents I've ever given them!!!

But that's all I'm saying. I'm not spoiling any surprises. :)

Home Improvement Central

2008-10-13T07:16:00.005-04:00

I am starting to really love my paint brushes and a can of paint. It can really make a BIG difference really fast!

On a Serious Note

2008-10-09T21:54:00.002-04:00

I generally try to keep this blog upbeat and fun...but sometimes that just doesn't fit.

This week has been very difficult for my family. Last Thursday my uncle died after many years of multiple health problems. My Uncle Rick, who had just moved back from Thailand, cared for him and helped him with doctor's visits, medication, etc. Then, the day before the funeral, Rick received a call from his niece in Thailand [Rick's wife is Thai and stayed in Thailand] who said Boon was in a coma. Apparently she was struck in the head by flying debris during a windstorm. How bizarre is that?!

After calls to the embassy, Rick decided he would fly over tomorrow morning. Last night he received the call that Boon has passed away.

Although losing my uncle was certainly sad, it wasn't anything like the shock of hearing about Boon...and I was much closer to her and Rick.

I wish Thailand wasn't so far away. Rick will have to travel by himself all that way and then deal with everything alone once he gets there. Boon does have a large family but without her there to help with the language barrier, plus his grief, it is sure to be a difficult trip.

Please think of my family during these times. I'm ready for things to get better and wish I could be of some help to Rick besides writing on my blog.

Diet Supplement

2008-10-08T22:22:00.003-04:00

Due to some mild health issues, I recently had to start supplementing my elderly cat's diet with canned food. It quickly remedied her mild health issues. I've also recently noticed that it has seemed to help a dreadful shedding problem.

And sometimes, when I comb my hair after a shower, I wonder if I should begin supplementing MY diet with canned food.

Something to ponder. ;)

Find Your Money!

2008-10-07T19:30:00.002-04:00

Go to www.missingmoney.com to see if you have any money owed to you from a company. I was just sorting through my bookmarked pages and wondered what this site was. So I went there, entered my last name and state, and WHAM! I found out that I have unclaimed money from Kentucky Farm Bureau. Who knew?

So now I'll print out the form and submit it to claim my money. I'm sure it's not much but every little bit helps right?

Home Projects

2008-10-07T19:16:00.004-04:00

I have been working on a crazy amount of home projects and other things that I've just been too lazy to do.

Over the weekend I planted 3 trees, painted my garage doors, planted my fall flowers, and managed to take a nap and visit with some friends.

The projects continued into the week. Last night I primed both of my house doors and scrubbed my garbage cans. Tonight I got another tree and planted it [come on rain!]. I was going to paint but since it is wet outside I don't think that's a good idea. I'm planning to read and catch up here until the debates.

After all that hard work, I deserve an evening to read! But my goodness those other 5 zillion projects that I want to do are calling me. ;)

600 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton

2008-09-27T22:36:00.002-04:00

Ok, I may have just entered into a new realm of linens. I am currently laying in my first set of 600 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton sheets. And I have to say, they are mighty nice.

I am always in need of sheets and today while we were at the World's Chicken Festival in London, KY [that's a story on its own] we purchased sheets. I know, strange combination, go to the Chicken Festival, leave with fancy sheets. Well, that's exactly what we did.

They were certainly discounted sheets but they're great. Usually I spend about the same amount of money [because I'm a tightwad] on sheets in a typical chain store and they're so cheap I feel like I'm sleeping on Velcro. Not these. I even bought 2 sets: 1 green and 1 burgundy.

Sweet dreams to me! :)

TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY

2008-09-26T11:41:00.000-04:00

Whoooopppeeeee! Today I'm 31!

Kodie Walked in a Flat Buckle!

2008-09-23T21:59:00.002-04:00

I am so proud of Kodie! She walked an entire walk around the neighborhood in a flat buckle collar. I rarely take her out of her training collar for walks because I am lazy. However, she has once again proved that I don't give her enough credit.

I have also decided that I'm going to progress on her Therapy Dog certification. I've talked about it and thought about it but never done it. It is time. I'll keep you posted.

Kodie - The Black Lab Guide Dog

2008-09-21T22:44:00.002-04:00

After most hikes there is a group that goes to eat on the way home. This trip was no different. The suggestion was to go to a neat little place where you overlook the Ohio River. I quickly volunteered to join the eat-fest and then second guessed myself.

Remembering Kodie was with me I began asking questions about the layout of the restaurant. "Is it possible to see the cars from inside?" "Can we get a table so I can see where she is?" "Is there shade in the parking lot?" I was assured that we'd work something out.

With that, I headed to my car. I was joined on the walk by Jake, one of our fellow hikers who happens to have a visual impairment and sometimes uses a red-tipped cane to help him get around. As we walked Jake said," I bet I could take her in and no one would question it."

With a wide-eyed look at this fantastic idea I said, "You know, I bet you could! Do you want to?" He agreed and I became giddy with the plan and potential of not having to worry about Kodie.

In the parking lot I put her "all business" collar on and gave Jake some brief instructions on how she walks. We entered the restaurant and Jake and Kodie both acted like pros. Everyone at our table giggled with our fun [and harmless] plot. Kodie behaved perfectly. I stayed close to them so it wouldn't be obvious that Kodie wasn't Jake's dog. We even made a trip to the bathroom!

Towards the end of the meal one of the waitresses came over to Jake and said, "What kind of a dog is she?" We all looked at each other. We hadn't thought through the plan that far. I spoke up and said she was an American Indian Dog. To which Jake replied, "They told me she was a black lab."

Feet Fail Me Now

2008-09-21T22:29:00.001-04:00

At least that’s what I think I told them before the trip I took this past weekend.

[Disclaimer: I had a lovely time with the Trail Talk crew on Two Lakes Loop in the Hoosier National Forest.]

Several people paddled into camp and several people hiked. I was with the hiking crew and we decided to do the full loop, which would end up being about 11 miles for Saturday and about 2-3 for Sunday. Sounded great to me!

A couple miles into the hike Stomper and Jerbear decided to take a break. I hate taking my pack on and off so I decided to have some sport beans standing. After taking a considerable amount of flak from the crew, they started talking about food. Delicious, piping hot food that quickly started making me crazy. I had to take off.

I left the group with Stomper trying to decide if she would complete the loop or opt for one of the connector trails and reduce her mileage.

Kodie and I marched on. Normally this route is a quiet and polite trail. But early Saturday morning the Two Lakes Loop turned on me.

About a week ago this area suffered really high winds from Hurricane Ike and we experienced about a million and a half trees across the trail and a lot of leaf and twig litter. At the first stop we ogled and awed over a decent little gash on Sara’s leg where one of the limbs reached up and bit her. I should have taken better notes.

For a while I had a delightful loner hike. It was just Kodie and I and we marched on enjoying ever little step. Then I started hitting spider web territory and I had to stop for a quick costume change. Off with the bandana, on with the ball cap to shield my eyes from the unforgiving sticky fibers.

While I was putting my hat on, Jerbear caught up to me. We hiked together for quite some time. Then I began to trip.

I tripped about 3 times in the branches and leaf litter. Then for what seemed like no apparent reason I went down. I almost caught myself with my trekking poles but didn’t quite make it. With a teeth rattling jolt, I ended up down on one knee. I was stunned for just a brief moment because I wasn’t really sure what had happened. I stood up. Jerbear inquired and I replied, ìI’m ok. I just fell.î Immediately after those words I tripped two more times. Sigh.

I got pretty tickled. I have never fallen on the trail. Oh sure, I trip and stumble around but up to now I have always been able to recover. Well, this trip was starting to make up for lost falls.

We continued for quite some time and everything seemed fine. We sat down and had nice lunch with nice conversation and then proceeded down the trail.

Shortly after lunch I realized that I had a dull ache in my knee. I kept going and didn’t really notice much pain unless I was going downhill. Then the group stopped for another break. Of course I didn’t want to take my pack off so I rested standing still. Then I really started to notice my knee and thigh muscle tightening up. I started to become a little worried about what the evening would bring.

We continued on and after several trips and stumbles we made it to the first dam crossing at the head of Indian Lake. Jerbear and I crossed the dam together and chatted. As we were coming down the dam I suddenly felt my feet slip out from underneath me and I saw his hand right in front of my face.

I laughed a hearty laugh, recovered, and continued on. I asked Jerbear if I had nearly taken him out with the latest fall and he quickly replied, ìAlmost!î A new wave of giggles overcame me.

I limped onward and really slowed my pace. Eventually I made it to camp and I was really looking forward to a dip in the nice cool lake. It was a duel purpose dip, to rinse off the first day of funk and to cool down my ever-increasingly aching leg.

After floating peacefully on my sleeping mat and a PFD, we were called to dinner. [The trip host graciously provided us with uncharacteristically superb food for this backpacking trip.]

As I left the water and wrapped myself up in my towel, I decided I should hang the PFD up where I found it. And, WHOOPS! Down I went onto the wet rock.

By this time I had been adequately humbled and all I could do was laugh. Then I realized I now had fresh sandy-dirty-muddy-smears across my backside. So I had to get back in the water to rinse the slippery rock goo off my bottom. Ah yes, you can imagine the laughs that got!!

So I made the climb back to camp, enjoyed dinner, and downed several Ibuprofens.

My leg felt pretty good in the morning so I decided to hike back to the car. Jerbear kindly waited on me so we could hike out together. I appreciated that because although I knew I would make it eventually, I didn’t have full confidence in my knee.

We began hiking and about half a mile into it I started tripping. He turned to check on me grinning and I said, "Let the falling begin!"

I managed to make it out without any more falls. And now I have a better appreciation for all those trips I’ve hiked and never landed on the ground.

Oh yeah, and next time, I’ll be sure to say, "Feet, DON'T fail me now!"

Checking out!

2008-09-18T23:32:00.003-04:00

Going backpacking this weekend. Leaving in just a bit. See you all in a few days.

Poor Pitiful Pool

2008-09-18T23:32:00.002-04:00

I've made a terrible mistake. I purchased, for like $1500 Kinzcash, a pool table for my Webkinz pets. "How nice!" you might say. However, I am the world's worst pool player. And now I am virtually the world's worst pool player. For two days straight I have been completely humiliated in my virtual pet community.

It's really quite embarrassing.

And now that I'm rereading what I just wrote...I don't think it is the pool part that is embarassing. :)

Note: I purchased the pool table because lately I haven't been sleeping well. I believe part of my sleeping problem is that I go to bed to read and end up falling asleep before the cows come home. Apparently my body thinks that going to sleep around 9:30 - 10 pm and getting up at 7 am is too much sleep. So I decided I would find an activity that will keep me awake until 11 - 12...Webkinz pool did it. And despite my nightmares of being laughed out of the pool hall, I have been sleeping much better.

Soft in My Old Age

2008-09-11T21:43:00.002-04:00

That's it. I've officially gone soft in my old age...er...maybe in my dog's old age.

It's never really been a secret that when I leave Kodie home alone she naps on my bed. No, she doesn't just nap on my bed, she burrows down in to the very fibers of my pillow. Or at least it seems so by the evidence of dog hair that is left behind. I have tried many ways to cover the pillows with blankets and tuck the corners in, etc., but every time I come home the covers are wadded up in a ball in the middle of the bed, the pillows are still warm, and dog hair adds a new dimension to the linens. And I've decided that if that is the worst my dog does when I leave, I think I can live with it.

Well, tonight she forgot I was home. After the initial greeting and outside business she came in and entertained herself. When I walked into the bedroom I found her lounging comfortably, where? On my PILLOWS of course!

Instinctively I mildly growled and said, "What do you think you're doing?" Then she hopped off. As she penetrated me with her loving eyes I began to go soft. Maybe it is that I'm about to turn 31. Maybe it is that it makes the cat mad. Maybe I just like the idea of a mature dog who knows the difference between an invitation and a boundary, BUT I sat down on the bed and invited her back up. She eagerly hopped up and assumed her position in a cozy ball on my pillows. I had to giggle. Then I propped myself up on a vacate pillow and proceeded to perform a ridiculous display of belly rubbing.

So I've decided. There may occasions in the future where Kodie is invited on the bed with me. Not all the time. Maybe when I'm feeling sad. Maybe on cold wintery nights. Maybe just because she's my amazing dog.

Sick As a Dog

2008-09-11T08:48:00.002-04:00

I think I posted something with a similar title about a year ago. Yep, Kodie is sick as a dog again. Yesterday afternoon she started vomiting at work. And never stopped until we went to bed.

Not knowing what brought all this on left me wondering, "How on earth could the dog have gotten into something awful?" She's with me in the morning, she's with me in the afternoon, and almost always she's with me in the evening.

So last night I was racking my brain trying to figure out how on earth she could have gotten something to make her sick while I was doing yard work. And then I saw it. A pile of Bluejay feathers with no Bluejay. That darn dog.

So I spoke with the vet and they gave me some advice and a time table for when it was appropriate to bring her in. I followed their recommendations and held my breath when I gave her a special bland breakfast.

So here I am waiting for that dreaded "2 hour" window to pass hoping that she will not be ill and we can go to work.

Wish us luck.