Yosemite Ruby Sue

I picked up a couple of new throws (binkies) for the living room at the DG yesterday. Ruby claimed the one that I threw across Lee's chair immediately. He got home from work, got into his comfy clothes and headed to pile up in his chair. Ruby dove behind him as he sat down. Her binky. Bless her heart, she was able to find a little corner of it on the back of the chair. Usually, she would be laying on Lee's lap. It was all about the blanket last night.

I tucked all the dogs in and crawled into the bed last night. My feet are really cold here lately. I don't even think about it when I slide them across the bed to Lee's side and jam them under his leg. He let's me do it. I think he feels sorry for me and my cold little feet. They must have been extremely cold last night because he let out a holler. I apologized and retracted the evil things. He laughed and said if it was Ruby, she would have done her "rickle rack robble rap rap rabbalap rumble...rumble....rumble." It's sort of a Yosemite Sam rant that settles into a grumble. She does it any time she is displeased. Like, when she's under her Snuggie on the couch and I caress her paw that's sticking out, or when I hold her down with a big hug, or when she's breaking the rules and trying to sniff the food on the counter top and I slip my foot out of my shoe and put a cold toe on her belly. It startled her the first time I did it. Now it just pisses her off. She adds a bark to the beginning of the cold toe swear. Funny enough, she is the roughest toughest hound dog that ever locked horns with a rabbit, here in Deer Run. Lee says she's spoiled.

Tree Up

Today is so icky :( The sky is gloomy. The air, damp and cool. I've decided to keep my curtains shut and bask in the glow of our Christmas tree. Ruby Sue says that's a fine idea, as she breaks all the rules and lays across the top of the sofa cushions. I bet Santa will still bring her a present even though she's a ornery hound dog.

In Love With Guntersville State Park

Warning: This blog will force you to look at my boring nature pictures and listen to me go on and on about how amazing hiking in Guntersville State Park is. First pic I took before the descent from the lodge to the campgrounds on the Lodge Trail. The trail begins behind the lodge which tops Taylor Mountain and ends at the campground on the lakes edge. I believe this was the most stunning hike we've been on so far.

The trail is 1 mile. The trail description stated that deer are often seen on the trail. We had no idea that we would end up right smack in the middle of a den. We, first, stumbled upon a doe and her little one, bedding down just feet off the path. We snapped a few pictures and did a little backtracking to go around them. They didn't seem to mind us.

Where's Waldo? :) There are at least four deer in this picture...one is looking right at you. Within minutes, we were seeing more deer. As we began counting and realized we were surround by at least nine deer. Then, we saw their buck. Gorgeous! He was an elusive fella. We tried to get a picture of him, but he never stopped within our view long enough for us to get the camera in focus for a picture of him.

I have to admit, being surrounded by them was intimidating. The Tosh.O video clip of the deer attacking the dog crossed my mind, and I was glad we hadn't brought Ruby. She spotted one on the Tom Bevill Trail, that we never saw except for a flash of a white tail as it jumped a fallen tree in the hollow below. She had a come apart. They weren't afraid of us and I think that's what scared me most.

We rested at the campground, took a restroom break. The facilities weren't bad. There is a little country store to you can grab a snack at. Then we headed back up the trail...another mile back up the mountain. The trail is described as moderate. Lee said her would have rather hiked from the campground to the lodge and back, but I enjoyed it the way we did it.

Comfort

Haha! The routine. This morning I rolled out of bed around 7:40am, let the dogs out, made coffee, let the dogs back in, gave them treats, made sausage, egg and cheese wraps for Lee, hooked him up with sodas and a creamy mug of coffee and saw him out the door. No lunch today. He ate everything I cooked last night, which was everything we had because it's grocery day. I'll take him something around noon, which gives me an excuse to see him. Then, I fixed my breakfast and plopped down here, in front of the laptop in the kitchen. My Robbie called for our coffee talk, I love that. Now Live with Regis & Kelly is on. Woo hoo! Dolly will be on their next show. I just love me some Dolly! Sorry. No, I'm not done yet with my ADD, apparently, I love the crazy, Target Black Friday training lady. I won't go on into the details of the rest of my daily routine, except to say I was a fool to consider leaving it for a full-time job almost 50 miles away from home again. Especially, to go to work a place that I remember brought out my ugly, competitive side and I often found myself devoting more time to it than my family.

We are going to see Lee's family tomorrow. I met them for the first time Saturday. I can't decide if I am going to make chicken cheese cake as an appetizer (and we can eat it) or my big fat New York cheese cake for dessert. We are going to fit some hiking in this weekend. We finally got some hiking boots that will be better for the upcoming cool weather hiking. We have been wearing hiking sandals. I joked that I just needed some of those toe socks to wear with them. Not with Lee for a husband. The shoes have to be appropriate for the sport and they have to fit correctly. As usual, they ended up being the more expensive shoes in the store. We both have strange feet. Mine are narrow with high arches, Lee's are extra wide and require good arch support, also. Now we need a small tent and some sleeping bags for an overnight trip.

Mindy update! This dog is crazy! She has not acted like she's dying since Friday. It's nuts! She is bouncing around the house, threatening Ruby, eating her food, no accidents, and she even wanted to snuggle with me last night. It's been a while since she even acted like she knew who I was. She responds when I clap my hands and call her name. This is the Mindy I know. Yay, Mindy!

I'm getting excited about the Jingle Bell Run. It's coming up soon. I got a good run (for me) in with Lee, Allison and Dereck on Monday night. We have a great team! We met our fund goal last week, now we're just trying to get our last two members to sign up to meet our recruitment goal. I still don't know how Robin got me into this. She just keeps on bugging you into she hooks you. You can't be annoyed with her, so you just submit to what she wants, lol!

How Many Fiction Novels Have You Read This Year?

I've been a housewife for three years now. I talk to my family daily, my friends a fair amount, so I am not a social as I used to be. I don't watch a lot of television. No more than I did when I worked. Most of the reading I do involves magazines and cookbooks. I have been working on Let the Right One In, so when the question popped up on the pre-employment personality test I took today, I was surprised. I haven't finished it, but I answered 1. I know that's not the deal breaker (I've been informed that I'm not competitive), but none of the test made sense to me. I thought the whole damn thing was stupid, since I worked for the company for 9 years. Maybe my disdain for the whole situation came across in my test. It began with reading comprehension. I admittedly flubbed that part up. I'd never seen a test like it. Even when I went to insurance school so I could work for an agency. Their tests made sense. The scenarios were job related. What does security badges and agent commissions have to do with the job I was applying for? Not a thing. I'm sure am glad they have a test that will keep me from being hired by a company that hasn't a clue. And that will be the only dig I take at them. Now back to my own degradation, as I suspected, I've lost my skills and my personality sux, too. They put it nicely, and in a way that confused me as much as their test, explaining that my performance was not competitive. Probably, true. I have never been turned down for a job. Ouch! Everyone expected that I would be going back to work soon. They are surprised. I stopped by my sister's office after botching the test. I told everyone I did, before I even got the dreaded email. I met all her co-workers and they told me how much they loved her. Of course they do, everyone loves my Robbie :) As I arrived home with my tail between my legs, she sent me a message telling me how all her co-workers said I was sweet and pretty. She knew just what I needed. She can't help me shake off that I felt ignorant, like uneducated stupid, for the first time in my whole life today, but she knows that if you're going to be dumb, then you better be pretty, lol! Guess, I'll never get that good personality thing down.

Nothing Beats a Great PAIR of Leggs

Even though I'm feeling a little premenstrual rage today, I left the house to go get some pantyhose. I thought it best before I stopped screaming at my misbehaving dogs and murdered one of them. Or my neighbors called the law on me for screaming at them, whichever came first. So I head out on the road to find road work being done, again, at the intersection of 79 and 160. This particular road crew has the least skilled people I've ever seen directing traffic. You'd think they'd make you take a class or something. I don't know, maybe it's the good people of Cleveland that were at fault. All I know is as I rolled up to the intersection, the driver of the vehicle approaching may or may not have been directed into my lane and, then, to drive through the merge lane at my right into the Tonka parking lot next to me. I got the heck out of there by heading on up 79 for a safer route. A couple of weeks ago it was just as confusing. The little fella was attempting to direct me, but his hand signals just didn't make any sense. As I tried to figure out what he wanted me to do, he got impatient with me and decided that yelling at me would help. So having not killed my dogs or been involved in an auto accident yet, I dropped lunch off to Lee and against my better judgment headed to Wal-Mart. I realized as I looked through what was left of my dress clothes after not working for three years, that I needed some pantyhose. Planning to run in and out of Wal-Mart was a joke. They keep moving the fool store around, I believe in a plan to keep you lost, wandering around, so you will buy more. Wal-Mart is the devil. I shop elsewhere at all cost. I even considered buying the hose at CVS, but the size and color selection at drug stores has been a problem in the past. I walk over half the store before finding the aisle with the hosiery, right slap in the center of the store...evil. It's been three years and I've lost 20 lbs since I quit work. What size? I look on the back of the box. I am between an A and a B. Nude or beige? Shoot! I can't remember that either. Really, Gina? It frickin' pantyhose! Ask Robin.....no answer. Crap! I go with the only box I see, of the brand I used to buy, of B Nude. Better too big than too small, unless they are wrinkled up around your ankles, like you're 10 years old and they belong to your momma. I make it to the register, only to find they won't ring up. Puzzled, the cashier looks to the bottom of the box to find the bar-code folded in. Now, I've noticed boxes of items I've purchased in the past being tampered with by getting home with a cheaper brand and wrong color of my hair-color and hosiery, so I asked her to check it out. She pulled out one knee high. I would have been so pissed tomorrow morning. I went back, of course and dug out another box, opened it to make sure that they would cover both legs. I attempted to check the size, but they don't bother with that on Leggs anymore. The check out lady had gone on break by the time I made it back to the register. The box of tampered hose taunted me, "Haha, missy, I'll see you on the shelves again, because nobody gives a crap and they'll just put me back up." My busy-body self suggested they label it. The checkout boy laughed it off. He'll never understand what a girl has to go through for a great pair of legs.

Is It Time, Mindy?

The time has come to say goodbye to my sweet Mindy, but I can't let her go. I am selfish and I want her to stay with me. I have tried everything to make her better, like she used to be. Oh, how I miss that Mindy. She was so spirited! She made sure she got what she wanted, that's for sure. She ripped up carpet, ate through child gates, and demanded her food and treats, promptly. Just crossed my mind, but maybe she had to tell me what she wanted because I wasn't as good a mom as I thought I was.

She loves to lay in the sun most mornings. Sometimes I find her just standing there in front of the door. It's like her brain stops working. I think she gets confused and forgets what she was doing. I just checked her and she is laying down now. I have so many pictures of that girl happily laying in the sun, but I guess I need this one to help me do the right thing. Everyday, I wait for a sign. I suppose, I'm waiting on her to let me know this one, too. Is it time, Mindy?

Wouldn't Have Guessed It

Hiking! Lee and I finally have a hobby, that we enjoy equally, and it's active! Most of the stuff we do together requires sitting. We talked about it all summer. Researched local trails online. Even took drives to a couple of state parks to check things out, but a couple of weekends ago, we hiked. It was so much fun! With everything so beautiful right now, I just can't get enough. I want to go Sunday....I want to go Thanksgiving, and I want to do an overnight trip, too! We are so lucky to live in Alabama. We have 19 state parks that boast a combined total of 192 hiking trails. The other day Lee came across The Walls of Jericho, located in Jackson County. It is referred to as The Grand Canyon of the south. You hike over 2 miles to the canyon, down hill. That means the hike back is just as long and up hill. There is a primitive campground to stay at, which sounds like a good idea, since the round trip takes all day. As usual, I can't wait until we can find time to go there!

Well, If It's Drama You Want....

Dear Brat,
You're not going to ruin my holiday season this year, you ignorant cow!
With Love
Sista

My fool of a little sister just can't seem to get it through her head that she is twenty-frickin'-eight years old and that life isn't one big party. I think that if we could just beat that in, maybe, she would get a clue that her train isn't going to come in while she's sitting on her ass looking at her Blackberry. To watch her life play out on Facebook is painful. She can't find love, she doesn't need love, she loves her boys, she's at church, she's at a trashy club, she's going to sell her trailer/truck, she doesn't own either one of them (not really). And so it goes on....she's cleaning, she's cooking, she's spending time with her boys, she's supposed to be doing that anyway, but if she posts it online someone is sure to kiss her ass and tell her how TERRIFIC she is. If she'd done all those things while she was married and cared about her husband, she'd still be married.

Our family took all we could of it, until we had to hide her posts. Last Sunday night the shit hit the fan, though. Mom called me up crying so hard, I was afraid someone had died. Nope, she decided to confront her little mooch about not paying her bills and running off all weekend. She told Mom she was at the beach, she told Facebook she was in B'ham. Regardless, she shouldn't have been spending money on either. She jumped on my mom and my step-dad defended her. So, just like a teenager, she pulls the "you're not my dad" and "my daddy wouldn't talk to me like that" crap. Haha! Our dad wouldn't be talking to her, he'd be whipping her butt. I'm sure he's so proud of the woman she's become. Poor fella, his death has been the blame of her shortcomings for 14 years now. After getting off the phone with Mom, I hit her where it hurt....her precious Facebook. She deleted me, so I posted that, too. I understand that she proceeded to delete most everyone else in our family.

I talked to my mom about everyone getting together with her, an intervention. My mom and her ex-mother-in-law have the most influence over her because they keep her children. I was told that they were afraid she would take the children and run. I officially give up. In the past, time spent trying to help that crazy bitch was a waste. With nobody on board but my sisters, it will be again. I even listened to her ex-husband go on and on about it, when he called me the other day, hoping that it would be productive conversation. Heh. Nothing. I don't want to hear another word about it or about our usual holiday get-togethers. I will not have the "fun ole family Christmas" this year because I am tired of ignoring the elephant in the room. Who keeps inviting that bastard?

One-Step Spice Cake

Love this one because you can make it your own, by adding a fruit of your choice. I have added a banana, cranberries, blueberries, diced apples, chopped oranges, and blackberry jam. Dust the top with powdered sugar or drizzle a glaze over the top. Mmmmmm-mmm! My husband loved it all. Then, I had to stop baking and we had to lose 20 lbs. Great for the holidays!


1 cup oil

3 eggs

3/4 cup applesauce

2 cups self-rising flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

1 cup chopped pecans


Combine oil, eggs, applesauce, flour, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and pecans in a mixer bowl; mix well. Spoon into greased and floured tube or bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove to wire rack to cool completely. Place the pan back over the cake, flip it and cover it for easy travel.

This, that and my dog

Saw Scum Bag Chris at Tonka. Loser. The guy who used my Kassie last year. Gave him an eat shit look of course. He couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Put more blonde highlights in yesterday, love it so much, I may even add more!

Mindy is awful! Can't even handle it. The pee pee medicine the vet gave her works pretty good as long, as she's awake, but she's still old and senile. She laid in the living room dog bed and pissed herself in her sleep Thursday. I just threw it out. Last night she shit herself in her bed and tracked it through the house when she woke up. It's bad, but I hope I don't have to clean up after her too long. Unfortunately, I've fed her the best food, gave her vitamin supplements, and cared so good for her over the years, that my reward is a crazy old wiener dog! When she's awake she running around all spunky, even though she can't see or hear. She runs with her paws way out in front of her, like feelers lolz! And that's how she travels everywhere. It's very hoppy, which makes her ears flap. She looks like she's happy anyway:) OMG what did I do to deserve this!

Put my flannel sheets on our bed last night. It was chilly and Lee asked if he should turn up the heat, but shit! we just turned off the frickin' air conditioner. That's Alabama for you. I swear, it's the only place that you can be assured that you will have to use the air conditioner and the heat the same damn day. I REFUSE! That's what layering is all about. Throwing on those Uggs and fuzzy pajamas to save a buck or two ain't all that bad. Gives me an excuse to snuggle.

Happy Halloween Birthday!

I was worried that Halloween weekend was going to blow. Had my spell and a little sinus ickiness, but I got to feeling better and it all came together. I made a huge pot of chili that fed everyone throughout the weekend. Robin and I left after a late breakfast Saturday morning. Mom had called, saying that there was a jogging stroller at a local yard sale. It was a bust and it was for the best. She's not one of these women who wants one just because they are cool, she actually runs. I think she needs a Bob, Baby Jogger Performance or Schwinn. She's worried about the cost, but I think it will be worth the money to get a quality jogging stroller.

We left the yard sale empty handed and headed back to Oneonta. Allison was trying to get Amber ready for some head shots for her upcoming pageant, so we decided to help out with that. We took over. Robin and I ran to Wal-Mart, threw together some cute outfits, I did her hair and Robin directed. It was a lot of fun, not at all what we'd planned for the day. I got home and got to cooking, again.

Everyone showed up, ate and had a good time together. The guys spent most of their time in the living room watching football. The ladies hung out in the kitchen with me watching horror movies. Derek was unfortunate enough to spend just a little too much time in the kitchen and got pinned down with Mother asking him about his "intentions". That'll teach him. Poor fella. I painted Mom, Allison and Amber's faces. Not a great job, thanks to beer, but it was entertaining.

A few beers more and, yes, we end up doing things we may regret.....like taking bathroom pictures. Here we have a different kind of photo shoot. Hey, at least we all got along. I only threatened to kick one persons ass that night. In my defense, that particular person should have taken into account whose home they were in. I don't let people sass me and walk all over me like my mother.

We all had a really good weekend together. Loved having Eric, Robin, Boggs & Bernie here and the rest of the family running in and out. Hope Thanksgiving is just as good. Can't wait! Turkey! Hmmmm, need to get one. And need to make some plans. Momma is coming over to get her hair done this afternoon....must remember to discuss.