Tuesday Chatter 11-26

Marty, I read that too about the shortage of fresh turkeys this year.  Butterball couldn't get their turkeys to put on weight.  I don't want to think about what tha means either. I looked for a fresh turkey breast too but no luck.  Buying just the breast is more expensive.  I can always just fix the breast for Thanksgiving and cook the rest of the bird for the dogs.  If I can find one.  If I remember today that I need to find one. lol  We're having only ourselves for Thanksgiving.  I am thankful but also a little sad that my family is so dysfunctional and scattered.

Last night the dogs made a kill.  It was in the living room.  One of the new fluffy dog beds I bought a while back.  I was on the computer.  Then I got up to check on dinner.  I glanced in the living room and I almost screamed in shock.  I knew the dogs were playing but didn't think a thing about it.

So. Much. Stuffing.  I called DH to come look and he burst out laughing.  The three dogs were all playing, tossing the bed innards in the air and rolling in them and having a grand old time.  I couldn't get mad it was so funny to see. I put a picture on FB though it only appears to show Rex.  Gabby is in the picture but she's hidden by dog bed stuffing.  :) Belle was in on the fun too.  They were very sad when we picked up the innards, which filled a large trash bag to the top.

Ah, the dreaded stuffy guts!  DH gets such a kick out of Thunder pulling them out in absolute joyful abandon.  

Thanksgiving here will be just us too.  I've seen plenty of fresh turkeys here, but haven't looked specifically for just the breast.

Someone, who's name I won't mention, started fussing at 5:30 to go outside.  He did have to go, so can't be too bent out of shape, but, seriously?  That's kind of early!

Icy roads this morning. Reminded me I need to put some weight in my truck bed. I'd use DS for this purpose if he didn't whine so much.

Ahh...the dreaded holiday season. IMO, the only way to eat a turkey is smoked. Even a small turkey is too much for 2 people. I wouldn't mind leftovers if the turkey was smoked, but other than that, they stink too much to appeal to me.

DS is working on Thanksgiving and then eating at a friend's place. I'm having a friend over to watch the Lions/Packers game and we are going light - taco salad. There will be venison sausage w/cheese and crackers for snacking, and pumpkin cookie bars for dessert.

I had a horrible dream before the alarm went off this morning so was glad to have it interrupted. It was upsetting and am still trying to shake it off. I'll refrain from sharing so nobody else gets the images in their heads.

Hi -- work has been insane and I haven't had even a moment.  By the time I get home I've been slammed there too (why doesn't laundry stop??

All that's not a complaint -- heck I'm glad to *have* a job and I'm glad I'm well enough to GO. 

Trying to get ready to go away tomorrow nite (we're doing our typical Thanksgiving "trip to Tampa" -- Busch Gardens on Thursday, then  to see Bok Tower all decorated on our way home Friday).  The pups LOVE the attention (there is a really *nice* kennel area at Busch -- they can all be in one run).  I look forward to this more than anything all year I think.

But how much of the parade will I watch?  Gotta stay long enough to see which float Joan Jett lands on!! LOL (Yes, I truly am a fan LOL -- loud rock music - may it ever rule!)

Its so good to see everyone.  We are short handed at work this week so it has kept us slightly busier than usual.  The cold and wet moved in friday.  The wet moved out but the cold stayed and will be in the teens tonight.  I cant tell how thankful I am for my new heat pump.   I love wood heat but it's so nice not to haul it in everynight.  Saturday was a bad Fibro day...so I was worthless. I feel like I didnt get anything accomplished this weekend.

Ron and I have started a new tradition (except last year when my daughter was getting her new hip   )   We have Thanksgiving dinner cause I like to cook it for us.  Just the two of us,  Ron sleeps in, I watch the Parade and cook at my leasure.  We eat later in the day so there is no rush and then we eat left overs until we are tired of them.  I often make Tortilla soup and Bwanna's spicey vegetable soup with the left over turkey. 

Now...da-da-da-daaaa!  Meet my new Granddog.  My Son has missed having a dog but wanted to wait until my Addy was old enough to understand the responsibilty attached.  They have adopted  Lily

Introducing Addy and her new BFF "Lily"!

Can we all say "Awwwwwww!!!!"  BOTH are cuties!!

**I GOT GOOD NEWS**  The pain dr put me on Gabapentin 3 weeks ago -- this not only stops "pain" but specifically it stops all these nerves from mis-firing and causing all the massive muscle spasming I've had for so very very long.

But it *is* very addictive, and I was super concerned about side effects increasing and they increased the dose.  3 weeks ago he started me on 1 pill a night then after 10 days 2 pills a night and then tonight I was supposed to go to 3 pills a night.

It has helped **a LOT** and the horrific muscle spasms have (dare I say it?) stopped!   It has helped some of the general arthritic pain but mostly it is the threat of these muscle spasms that has been so terribly debilitating for so long.

What's the good news?  I called to find out if ... since 2 pills seems to have stopped the muscle spasms, do I *have* to go to the 3 pills a night?  I'm really concerned that if we push it to 3 pills I will see more side-effects and I don't want to be that deep into such an addictive drug.

Dr. H said if two pills are working HOLD!!  He will talk to me more about it when I go in next week, but to just stay at 2 pills and THAT is awesome!!!l

cute photo!!

I love the weather here

I feel like I'm actually adding some value out here which is good. I didn't know how it was going to turn out when I agreed to come fill in. The folks here are wanting me to stay through the end of the year. Not going to happen but it's nice to know I'm doing a decent enough job that they don't want me to leave just yet :)

Last night I was invited to a small work pre-thanksgiving dinner by one of the supervisors here for the dot. I got there late since I didn't get off work till 7 but still had a nice time. The food and company was good. I'm amazed at how many people I'm meeting here are actually from MI. Now I know where our entire population moved to when the economy tanked!

Julie - I'm so glad you've enjoyed this trip. Just a little farther west and it'll be even better :)

I feel like I've been swamped both at home and at work lately. I hope the holiday break will be calmer. I'm still working on wallpaper removal, so hopefully I can get that finished this weekend.

I spent almost $100 at Safeway on Sunday and about $300 at Costco yesterday. How the heck do 2 people need that much crap? Oh well, the freezers are crammed full. I took my frozen turkey out to thaw on Sunday, so hopefully it'll be ready by Thursday. It's small (12 lbs) compared to some of the ginormous ones I saw. DH is working, so I'm taking advantage of the day to cook up a storm. I really love to cook and especially so with music and a glass of wine :)

Ugh, my idiot neighbor just got a puppy.  I'm not against anyone having 3 dogs (been there), but she has a history of just leaving them in the backyard once they are adults.  I suppose there's nothing wrong with that in theory, but she also goes away for weeks at a time and leaves them with huge bowls of food and an automatic watering dish.  I always worry about them getting sick or injured, and now with 3, the chances of a dog fight are that much more.  2 of them were for her teenage daughter (almost ready for college), who seems to ignore them when they aren't puppies anymore.  Ugh!

I forgot to say Addy and Lily are too cute for words!!!!

Marty - sorry about the neighbor getting another new dog :(

For those who remember me posting about Abby Grace and the Angel's for Abby website, it seems that Abby has lost the battle with cancer. They have hospice helping now and it probably won't be long. Please say a prayer for a peaceful passing for Abby and much strength and peace for the family.

The two of them are just adorable!!!

The ignoring after puppyhood seems to run in that family.    Poor dogs.

Prayers for Abby and her family.  So sad, especially hard for the family this time of year.

Callie, so glad things are looking up for you health wise.  Dancing a jig for you so you won't be tempted to try!

Prayers for Abby Grace and her family .   Candle Lit for Abby Grace

In case anyone has lost the link

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=idog 

Oh geez...neighbor just posted on FB that she plans to let her have puppies.  She is a cute pup (Shi Zhu), but I hope she knows what she's getting into!

And if she leaves the dog 'out' while she's in heat and someone's rottie or lab gets to her, won't that be a mess (cos no one will be able to tell her that dogs can get pregnant by different sires at different times during "season";).  She's thinking how popular it will make her with her friends who "want a puppy" ... hopefully someone will tell her that when she goes in season she'll bleed and yet it's not smart to just put her outside.  ugh -- been there. Marty -- people like that NEVER know what they are getting into