it seems like

I'm forgetting to do something but I'm not.  Could it be that nothing major is on my calendar?  I love it.

Here's a little of what's been happening since last time.

Maggie got fixed.  I brought her home from the vet yesterday and keeping her still for 1-2 days was HARD.  We let her out in the backyard last night.  I figured it had technically been one full day since her surgery and it's not like she was enjoying it in her cage.  I left for about 30 minutes and when I came home, she had already torn into the stuffing of her bed.  I took her picture but she looks more like one of those animals in the commercials with the Sarah McLachlan music.  You be the judge.

Would you adopt this dog or donate money to her fund?  (Ignore all the white fluff.)

I did portraits on Sunday.  Thank goodness we were almost done when I got up from standing on my knees and looked down.  I'd been standing on poison oak.  I came home, got in the shower with dish soap and Tecnu and threw all my clothes (shoes included) into the garbage.  Today's Wednesday so I'm hoping I'm in the clear but so far, so good.  I can't go through that again.

There's a Texas Roadhouse in Lake Jackson now.  I'd say I'm pretty much a regular at going to pick up an order.  Each time seems to get a little worse though.  The food is fine but the wait and the service are HORRIBLE.  Each time I go I tell myself that time will go differently and each time I still leave angry.  Last night was the final straw.  Long story short, I was worked up enough not to want to go back and I'll probably leave a bad review (which I usually do in those situations).  So, I figured out why I have to keep going back.  It's the bread, the hot, delicious rolls they serve.  I'm serious.  Their rolls are like crack.  So on today's agenda, along with all the other things I've decided to get done on this week of nothing major going on, I will find a recipe and I will make the rolls.  Let's hope the first recipe works because I WILL learn to make those rolls so my dealer will quit making money off of me.

We were in bed last night and there was a loud noise.  Cosme jumped up wondering what that was but for me it was one of those times where you heard a loud noise and you wake up but once you wake up you weren't real sure if it was part of your dream or a real noise.  And by that time, you are not only doubting whether or not you even heard anything but then you can't remember what it even sounded like.  That was me.  We went into the living room and saw this.

So another thing on my to-do list is to find the little pegs that hold the shelves up… and put everything back in place.  But first, it's time to get busy on those rolls!

so I went to

the dentist yesterday for a crown.  You know, it's not even getting the crown that bothers me.  The part that bothers me is going in for the permanent crown to be put on.  That whole part of pulling off the temporary is just one of those things I don't like to feel or hear.  It's creepy and I always panic they're going to use those clamps on the wrong tooth.  (I also don't like the fact I was able to use the word "always" in there.)  I have to quit thinking about it but anyway, that's the worst part for me.  Actually, this was in the very back of my mouth and I'm pretty sore today so this might be the second worst part.  On the plus side, I was able to throw a quiche together last night and bake it so breakfast was a no brainer this morning… and easy to chew.  (Not that I can't chew but like I said, I'm a little sore.)

It looks like I'll be back at the store this morning for two more strands of Christmas lights for the tree.  All I can say is, I am my mother's daughter.

I got home from the dentist yesterday and started getting settled.  I unloaded a few things I had stopped to pick up on the way home, changed my clothes, started to change the front porch light (until I realized I don't have that size replacement bulb), threw my frozen mac & cheese in the microwave and it was about that time I wondered if it's considered drinking alone if animals are around or if I'm talking to someone on the phone.  I won't go into too much detail but let's just say Lucille got a lecture, Maggie got an appointment to get fixed on Monday and I managed to resist the urge to drink alone.

Now I'm off for more Christmas lights but I'll leave you with this picture I got on my beach outing the other morning.

things are

getting done this week.  TCB.  I have a few errands to run today and I also plan on getting the Christmas tree started today.  With all the stuff I have going on, I took a quick drive yesterday morning to catch the morning sun at the beach.  I decided to go down to San Luis Pass and get a few pictures.  Well, since I was last there, it's changed and I didn't like it.  Since I was already that far, I just kept going and went to Galveston.  It's funny to think that a spur of the moment photo outing landed me in Galveston at 7:30 in the morning.  I drove around and decided on one thing.  There's too much to see in Galveston for me to be driving around (without being properly dressed and also having bed head) in one morning.  I'm a little familiar with Galveston but traffic was starting to pick up and I didn't want to be rushed so I drove home.  I definitely need to go back.  Preferably not alone and preferably not as everyone is out on the roads headed to work, but definitely before everything opens.  Maybe early on a Saturday or Sunday would be better.

Anyway, on my way home I had to stop and get this.  Some people might think it's a little gross but oh well, it's what I saw.  I just thought it was a little funny and if it were to have a title, it would have to be Roadkill.  (With the emphasis obviously on road.)

On that note, I'm off to start my day... hoping it will end much better than that guy's.

can i call

it or can I call it?  I went to the dentist yesterday.  No biggie.  I have a cavity.  He showed me the x-ray.

Me: Wait...  This tooth with the big filling has a cavity?  (I give him a look like I know what's     coming...because I do)

Him: Yeah... you'll need a crown.

I know at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo they give out Hard Luck Awards.  The cowboy with the roughest ride/outcome wins airfare.  I think I'm deserving.  As I left I could only think of two things: 1) at least I have insurance and 2) at least I don't have poison ivy.  So, one week from tomorrow I'll be back in Houston for a crown.  And then hopefully before two weeks from that I'll be back for my permanent crown.  (I mean two weeks from that is Thanksgiving...)

On that note, I had a dream I was covered in poison ivy.  I realized I walked through it and was in the shower washing the oils off while on the phone with the doctor telling them to get a shot ready.

I bought bananas for banana bread.  I think I'll make it today.  The exterminator is coming, maybe I'll offer him a loaf.  It makes several loaves so I guess if anyone else shows up at my door I'll offer them a loaf too.  Oh, I bet that'll be wonderful with the homemade butter.  This might just be a wonderful day ahead of me.

On the dog front, I was watching Maggie out the window yesterday.  I'm pretty sure she was hunting snakes.  She was on a scent and it was around what I'll call the "snake pit" (the mess of palm that was obviously planted with the idea that the buyer of this house would install a pool... don't count me out just yet).  Luckily for me, there were no snakes found on the back porch.

It's almost 5:00.  It's getting late.  I guess I'll start laundry now.

i grew up in

the city and even though I've lived in these small towns for the last 20 years (the same small towns I spent a LOT of time in as a kid), I have to agree with whoever said the whole thing about taking the girl out of the city but not taking the city out of the girl.  Yeah, I know I don't live in the country but it's a small town and I see things here I just never saw in Houston.  I know it happened but just not in my world.  I guess it's the whole nature thing.  It's given me the willies the few times Maggie has trapped snakes.  But this morning I let her inside for a bit (we bought her a crate over the weekend) and then let her out when I felt it was time.  As soon as I shut the door, she started barking.  I looked out the window and there was a bird standing by the back fence.  That didn't bother me.  What bothered me was the lifeless mound of grey fur in front of it.  [insert willies here]  I didn't know what to do.  I wanted Maggie to quit barking but I didn't want to be left with a dead squirrel in the yard.  I decided to do what anyone would do... go outside to get a better picture than what I was able to get through a dirty window.

And then I saw the bird pick up the dead squirrel [more willies] and fly off as Maggie went to chase it.  I hate that kind of stuff.

On the bright side, I've seen these types of birds sitting on the back fence before.  From fb, I found out what it is and read up on them.  I don't like birds but I like these things.  They prey on things like mice, squirrels and snakes.

Attention all chicken hawks: YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.  I REPEAT, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. fine print: just keep killing unwanted critters and taking them away but preferably when I'm not looking.

and that's

a wrap.  The haunted house was a hit and apparently trick-or-treating at the house was a hit too.  Eric and Cosme dressed as Batman and Robin, respectively, and stood outside to pass out candy.  I gave Eric instructions on how to hand the candy out (from worst to best, stopping before best is gone).  Everything is gone.  Put it this way, I started on a pack of M&M's yesterday but I got busy and left a few in it to finish later.  Even those were gone.  See?  They gave out everything, probably eating some along the way and when they realized it was all gone, they even took my scraps.  At least I figure that's how it went.  Either way, our candy is gone.

As for the haunted house, it was great.  It's a little messed up how delighted I am to hear the people scream and see them jump.  Today's the cleanup day so I need to head over there pretty soon to help out.  That won't take near as long as the setup took.  Awesome.  Now I just need to figure out what time to head over.  They said it definitely won't be before 10:00.  I was thinking 11:00 would be good.

Oh well, I should probably wash some dishes and get dressed.  And don't be surprised if my Christmas tree goes up in the next week or so.  Don't judge me either.  Is it my fault that I think a tree is so pretty and a month just isn't enough time to admire it?  No.  So as Eric would say, let me do me.

(from the Houston photo walk)