We’ll Take A Cup O’ Kindness Yet

I am procrastinating. Severely. So much so that I've unloaded the groceries and then decided as I was putting some in the fridge that it was time to clean it. Which, as everyone has previously read on my oldest blog ever is so not something I enjoy. I don't even like to grocery shop. I did that today. On a holiday. Grocery shop. Then, I did all the dishes from stuff that I threw away. Most likely, I should have thrown out the containers too, but nothing, amazingly, was moldy. I was just cleaning house. I started the dishwasher. I went outside to play fetch with the puppies. I came back in to read a few blogs - full well knowing that I have to get motivated. And now, I'm writing on my own bloggy-blog. . . .

See how clean my fridge now is?

And take particular notice to this shelf:

Did you notice it's a New Year's shelf?

4 bottles of Champagne. Four. Bottles. Um, right. We will not be consuming all 4 tonight.
Seriously. We. Will. Not.

Champagne close-ups:
See how much I am avoiding the thing that must be done?
I'm now taking pictures of my damn fridge & its alcohol contents.

But the fridge is clean, no?

As usual, I digress. . . . to what are you procrastinating against, you may be asking? I answer, to workout.

I am on a new training schedule - one that is enforced by the husband - and since my workout time this coming weekend will be limited, I have to keep going. I'm not all for it today. Not one iota. Still, it must be done. Today.

pfffft. men. And their natural skinny arses.

Finally, if you're curious, no we have no huge elaborate plans for New Year's. We will be staying home tonight. Just the two of us. I will be making my famous chili as that is what the husband asked his New Year's dinner to be. Yes, chili. I offered filet mignon, mashed potatoes - the works - but he wanted chili. So, once I'm done with my workout, I'll be chopping, dicing and simmering. The champagne is also cooling - do you think I'd pass up on the bubbly? Absolutely not! We also went to Best Buy and purchased a few movies for tonight. I doubt we'll get into all 4 of those either.


Overall, I think we're in for a pretty good night. Chili, champagne and chmovies. Three c's. Not to bad. Not to bad at all.

I need to get moving in order to get the chili made on time. Off to my very boring spinning hour.




. . . . . . Or maybe I should make the chili first? I'm trying here, people! I really am. . . . . . .

Happy 2008 to everyone!
May this year be even better than the last.

I Can Hear You

'ello my pretties!

I know, I know . . . . you aren't crushing on me anymore. In fact, I've probably lost more of all ya'll than I can afford to lose in my 7 strong readership. It's not that I've lost the love for you. Or even for blogging. Really. I just went away without saying goodbye. I had good intentions, I really did. It just didn't happen. Like this year's Christmas card for the husband and me. He still petitioning for a "New Year's Card" and my friends to the south a "Valentine's Card", but I'm not sure if I have it in me right now.

Ask me in about 10-days when I've recovered from traveling, guesting guests and being a guest.

So, what did happened to Amazonian Diva these past 12 days?

1. She got lost in wrapping paper and ribbons.
2. She went to the great white north to holiday with parental units & other family.
3. She threw a fab surprise 40th anniversary party with the little sib for thy parents.
4. She was frozen in 20-degree & under weather.
5. She is illin' from being in the frozen tundra in the great white north or being stuck in a flying germ bubble. (Take your pick. It doesn't matter. She's sick.)
6. She's seen the husband all of 4 days in these last 12. ***sigh***
7. She finally arrived home only to pay bills & bathe 2 of thy 4 dogs.
8. . . . . and. . . . . also to finish as well as start some more painting o' the home.
9. Cleaning.
10. All of the above.

Still tired? Yep. Still here? Yep. Glad to be back in our Longhorn City? Yep. Happy? Extremely. So, I'll be in touch. I'm just not sure as to how often. My parents are coming at the end of the week for a quick long weekend. We have places to see, be and go. One of which includes a show of this guy.

Finally, as it seems I have been since the week before Thanksgiving. . . I'm still just a wee bit busy.

Like Cashmere

I'm very, very, very, very, very busy these days. . . . Most of you are too, so I know I am not getting any sympathy from the lot of you. It's just my explanation of why no blogging has been going on here in my part of our Longhorn City. My head may still manage to pop off at any moment and it will be none to soon. In fact, I think I'll welcome that with open arms. It's amazing I haven't had a stress headache. Really. It is. Though my brain is on meltdown; maybe that prevents awesome headaches? I found a cure. Give me royalties

Anyway, since my brain is on Chernobyl meltdown mode already, you only get pictures of the husbands and my past weekend. (And, also, further proof of why no blogging.)

THURSDAY
The husbands birthday

where we consumed some very good smooshed grapes
at the hotel & at Cru
(bubbly as well as non-bubbly)

and we had a fantastic view from our hotel

***********************************

FRIDAY
we met some good friends
here's one now:

and here's another one

one happens to be a closet supermodel

especially when Glenmorangie is involved

***********************************

VERY, VERY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
Scottish humor + drunken happy Scotsman = tons o' laughing

***********************************
SATURDAY & SUNDAY

There was a major malfunction of the person holding the camera and no longer could pictures be taken (read: lazy being super-duper relaxed). No accommodation refund will be sought; alcohol. . . on the other hand. . . .was not on the allotment for refund. I think I'm okay with that.

Being out of town and visiting awesome friends is a pretty good excuse for not updating my 7 readers. We finally got to meet Tim - he's a super cutey-patootey! I now want a rabbit. It was mentioned that the rabbit may get killed in my home. What?! Never. Don't say it. Big meanie's. . .

I still want a rabbit.

We had more than a fair share of fantastic food, wine and conversation! Sleeping, cooking, farmer's market, some BBCA TV, Iron Chef America and hanging with the homies, which are what weekends are all about! Amazingly, only one hangover was had, but I'm not telling who had it. That's for me to know and the rest of you to guess. It was all about relaxing. And that we did.

So, a big Longhorn City thank you to Ian & Nikki who made our lives a little bit easier.

Always Late to the Party

Tenacious Tink of Pickled Beef, once again, brings us our fabulous Weekly Words Challenge of green and want.

GREEN & WANT
This is my favorite green Billabong bikini the husband bought for me
to celebrate my first birthday I had with him.
We went to the beach.
I want to get back into it.

*****************

Stay tuned for next weeks words. . . .

Which are LIFE and WHITE. It's fun. Play!

Betchya Didn't Know You Could Fly

The evil spirits that be, won't let me be.

Today I woke up to doggie diarrhea . . . . again. I started to clean it up only to notice that the husband had walked through it. Where he then proceeded to walk throughout the entire house. Excellent. This was not what I consider a fantastic start to what my stiletto shoe'd day should be. 45-minutes later, I could finally go get and consume my freshly brewed coffee. Out of zombie mode. Huzzah!

What is even more horrible, is that tonight is the night of the husbands Christmas party. Or holiday party. Whatever. It's freekin' Christmas, so I'm calling it Christmas. Hell, I'm Christian - not that everyone else can't have their holiday too. I'm not opposed to any holiday, really, but this is the one I believe in. And I full-heartedly love it! I do. So, I say to you and anyone else, "Merry Christmas!" in combination with a full-on bear hug. Deal with it.

Erm. I sound like a crazy angry person. I'm really not. Really. I am not. Christmas is my favorite, if not most stressful, time of year. I very much love this holiday. This year, for some unknown reasons - house renovations, surprise party planning, shopping, letter conducting - is a tad more distressing and demanding than I'm used to. I am just behind and all the more crabby for it.

I suppose you think I should be angry with the husband for trudging runny dog crap through our house. I'm not. He was in total blackness at 6:30 AM and was not aware of said treachery. Sweetly, he did not turn the light on so as in order to not wake me. When it was discovered by him that he dispensed evil throughout our house, he was truly apologetic. And, this wasn't even his fault. That's true love.

And, finally, I have to say that I went shopping this morning (somehow I've turned into a last minute freakazoid, which I never would have stood for previously) for an outfit that needs donning tonight. A little something by BCBG. The big bonus is while at BCBG, I found a $450.00 winter coat (last one standing. And. In. My. Size. A sign from God Himself!) for the mere price of $140.00. And, I found some smokin' hot stiletto boots that were also on sale! ***cue angelic music!*** God is watching out for me today.

How can someone not love this time of year? The sales! The sales. . . ***shiver of goodness***

It's not all dog poo and home woes. I do have some stuff to smile about. Now I have to leave you and go get ready for this funtastic Christmas party. As much as I love the Christmas time, I'm not the huge holiday party jumping fool I once was. I would really rather stay home with the husband, open a bottle of wine and turn on the fireplace. We've had guests in our home since Monday and I just need alone time with my man . . . . . Maybe Tuesday next week?

***************

Simply Curious Girl has tagged me with the meme letter to my 13-year-old self. Coming from her, this is very flattering. I don't mind being tagged, especially with this little delicious ditty. Though, living vicariously through her life is wa-aaay more exciting than mine. You should read her letter. It's awesome. Emmeline, Jay, Valley Girl and r.e.h. have all written one thus far and I'm afraid I may not be able stand up to these exquisite masterpieces. Either way, go read their little luxuriousness's. You won't be disappointed. Mine will be coming, if even you have to wait a bit. I'm still under paint, you know. Duh.

Even With Treatment This is A Nightmare

Rock Chef said it best so I'm going to use his words (if you click this here link).

I'm okay, but I've been busy. I know you know this and I entirely blame the do-it-yourself projects going on at home that seem to ever increasingly grow. Just like sea monkeys when you add water. With each step, one more gets added. I'm over my head, really. And, while we have slave labor (read "parental in-law units") fixing each and every problem along with us it is still pretty darn craptacular. Especially this time of year.

Yes, yes I am lucky to have free labor where a home cooked meal now and then suffices the masses, but I am tired. Not only am I the designated inside painter of all things with. . . . . well. . . . . walls, but I am also the cooker, cleaner, Christmas letter constructor (not a word has been written), event planner, shopper (food, gifts and miscellaneous guns), poo patroller, vacuumer, phone operator and launderer. Don't believe me? Last night I spent the entire night cleaning up doggie diarrhea from one sick leetol puppy. It was not fantastic. It really, really smelled. So, I'm more tired than normal. I just want to curl up into a little ball and sleep until this all goes away, which means after the 1st of the year of 2008. Or it's finished by someone else.

On top of it all I can't participate in my marathon. It's off to the Orthopedic doc I go. I've done something horrible to my knee. Feeling my aging, I guess.

So, if ya'll don't hear from me for a bit, it's because the sea monkeys have outgrown their aquarium. Or they died from adding too much water. . . Pick your poison.

Okay, okay, to finish on a positive note. An electrician is scheduled for Monday to give us an estimate of the cost of re-wiring the home. Once more, a gazillionbilliontrillion dollars will be running out my pocketbook. I already know. How is that positive, yeah. . . I dunno either? Though, I called Direct TV this afternoon and they reinstalled our service for the low cost of $34.01. Yet, I just paid $75.00 to disconnect it. Bargain.

But at least we have TV.

I also made homemade chili for dinner tonight. That which is entirely guaranteed to give you the runs.

Always Late to the Party

As usual, I am late. But for good reason(s):

1) It was revealed today that our house's electrical wiring is completely unsafe. Unsafe. Ok, close to unsafe, but unsafe nonetheless. None of it, but one (yes ONE) outlet is "grounded." I now need a gazillionbilliontrillion dollar-eeees . . .

2) As a result, we were not able to install U-verse. I un-installed the satellite dish service yesterday. We now have no TV. We can't get it until we upgrade the electrical wiring. Um. That means no Dexter (forewarning: sound) or Ghost Whisperer (2nd forewarning: more sound), which will cause me to pull out my hair. Including my eyebrows. I'm not kidding.

3) I went Christmas shopping today. Almost done now.

4) I started drinking heavily at 8:30 AM upon news of electrical wiring. [I kid, but it was tempting. I went and received a massage instead. Does that count instead of booze?]

Anyway, back to why I'm here posting at this late hour. The tantalizing Tink of Pickled Beef has challenged us with the words orange and landscape.

ORANGE
Yep. It happened. Inevitably, I spilled the terra-cotta paint color. . . . . . .
where there was no drop cloth.
(Immediately, upon doing so, I grabbed the camera for WWC. At least I have my priorities straight.)



LANDSCAPE
The landscape of Dixie a few days later. Yep. That's paint.
I'm having a great week.

***************************

Next week, if you want to play, the words are want and green. Do it.

Want to Glimpse Someone's Nature, Stand Between Him & His Mocha Latte

me: want some cheese. . . . .***just home from the grocery***
the husband: uh. What kind is it? ***makes face***
me: it's Epson Port Salut Cheese.
the husband: um. No. It looks disgusting.
me: it's just cheese. ***taking a whiff*** Hm. It doesn't smell too good.
the husband: yeah. I wouldn't eat that.
me: ***taking teeny-tiny bit into mouth*** Oh. My. God. That's awful! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh - I need something else! Quick! Help me! ***sandpaper my tongue***
the husband: ***laughing*** I told you.
me: ***throwing out cheese*** There goes 7-bucks worth of disgusting cheese.
the husband: why do you buy that crap without knowing how it tastes?
me: because one would think a grocery store would sell cheese that is edible to all things living. ***duh***

My garbage even smells now. I can't even get it off my fingers and I've washed my hands 4 times as well as washed the dishes. Disgusting. There is no other word.


[I wonder if this negates my "I will never doubt my wife again, ever. . ." clause?]