Vacation...

 
...what a wonderful thing it is. Everyone asked where I was going for vacation. Well, I had the absolute most wonderful time just being at home. Oh I did go to the immediate family Christmas on the 24th at Renie’s. I also made it to Aunt Becky’s for Christmas with that branch of the family tree on Christmas day. Nannie and I had a marvelous time Christmas day and the day after. Nicole and Ryan made a brief appearance on the 26th, Ryan loves the crock-pot, and then they were off to NYC to begin their vacation. Toby spent part of his vacation with Aunt Rene & Uncle Steve and of course Munchkin. Millie spent some quality time with Aunt Patty & Uncle Jimmy. Most of the time though has been relaxing and well, relaxing.
So, I say to all 4 of you who might actually read this little blog, Vacation is a good thing, even if you don’t go farther than a few hours drive from home.

No Bark Zone

 
How does one stop a barking dog – especially a dachshund that is only protecting her apartment? After the Tulsa Police knocked on the door it became apparent that someone doesn’t like my dachshunds and that I needed to make them a little less protective. So, a trip to Super K (love that store) gained two collars with an attachment that gives off a very high-pitched sound when the wearer barks. We also learned that it goes off when one whines or growls. The collars seem to be working. Don’t worry, Millie still gets to bark her to her hearts content when we go for our walks, and she doesn’t have to wear the collar when we go to bed. After all, I do want protection at night. Other than that the alleged “24/7 barking” has ceased.
In other news…
The Bourbon Legend has arrived and it OMG awesome. Jason Boland is really maturing and yet staying true to his music. Can’t wait until we see him tomorrow night at the ‘Weed!

It was a Merry Christmas

Christmas, they say, is for the children. Well, I have come to believe that Christmas is as much for the Grandparents. Watching my parents and Aunt at Christmas is nothing like they were when I was a child. They spoil the grandchildren year-round; don’t get me wrong, but at Christmas it is magnified tenfold.
When I was a child, Christmas was good at home, but OH MY GOD when we got to Nannie and Poppie’s house, oh the presents! That’s the same with my parents. Every year you think that the next year the kids won’t get nearly as much, surely they can’t outdo what they’ve done. You’re wrong. They get more and more and more! In watching the history of Christmas, it was basically created as a way to spoil the children without actually spoiling the children. So, I guess that’s what happens.
Anyway, it was a nice Christmas and I’m happy that I actually enjoyed the holiday this year. Nicole came to Renie’s with me for Christmas Eve festivities. Renie cooked a huge turkey, mom cooked a 20lb ham and we had all the fixins. Honestly, I was looking around for one of the battalions from Iraq to show up, we had so much food!
I went to Ponca City to Aunt Becky’s Christmas day. Again, so much food! Lots of fun both days. I was blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with Nannie. I don’t get home as much as I should, so running her errands and spending the night with her was nice.
Toby is on vacation at Aunt Rene’s. I understand he is basically taking over the house. Millie spent two nights with Aunt Patty and Uncle Jimmy. She had a blast, but let me warn you not to let a dachshund overdose on Vitamin C. It gets a bit messy. Patty has pictures of Millies vacation, I’ll get them on here soon as I get them.
Nicole and Ryan made it to NYC. Her first comment to me was that there were a ton of people, traffic is horrible and everyone is honking. LOL – Welcome to NYC Nicole!
Ok, Millie is already in bed and I’m on my way. One more holiday to go!

On It's Way!

Well, I guess the squeeky wheel does get the first Bourbon Legend CD shipped out of the warehouse! This email was returned today after I again asked the whereabouts of this treasured item.

Hi Tammie,

The Bourbon Legend CD is scheduled to arrive this week, and hopefully ship out by the weekend. I have contacted the shipping department to make sure that your package will be in the first batch sent out.

Once again, my apologies for the delay; please let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks for supporting Jason Boland.

Thanks,
Allen Cote
Customer Service
All Access Today, LP2100 Northland Dr . Austin , Texas 78756

Christmas Isn't So Bad, Maybe

So, maybe, just maybe my heart has grown a few sizes. I actually like Christmas this year. Oh, not all the bs of who gets what and that crap, but Christmas in general isn’t depressing me.
I’ve been looking for a tree to put up in my humble apt and decided that I didn’t want to pay $60 for a tree that is only used for one month a year. Then Laura called and said they had come across the tree that she had at her apt years ago. She asked if I wanted it, and well, I said yes.
Patty came up yesterday and we went Christmas shopping. I bought decorations and you see the tree behind the dachshunds. The day was fun. No stress, just went to a few stores, had lunch at Red Robin and then they were still around at dinnertime, so off to El Chico we went! Mom and Dad came up today and I finished the rest of my shopping, almost. Presents are wrapped and under the tree. My apt is clean and bleachy smelling. Needless to say, I’m a bit tired.

Let it Snow!

Let me just begin this weather blog by stating that I HATE SNOW.
Snow, snow, snow. Everywhere we look there is only snow, and if we aren’t careful we find ice underneath the snow.

Now, with that out, it all began Wednesday. Yes Wednesday. That’s the day we had our first Weather Meeting. I was given the task of calling the church at the bottom of the hill for permission to park in case the mountain is iced over and looks like Mount Crumpit. I was also asked to do my normal task of ordering dinner for the evening. Thanks to Rib Crib, all were fed well. We also enabled a new school closing reporting system this year. I was placed on stand-by (and later told definitely) to come in at 4:30am.

So I get up around 3am, and to my surprise it takes 30minutes to get the inch of ice off my car! Needless to say I made it to work around 4:30 and ended up spending the night. I didn’t get home until 9:30ish Friday morning.

Of course I had to re-dig out my car at the station. You see I was there for the whole 2nd phase of the storm that dumped an official 10" of snow in the Tulsa area.

It was nice having the love from my puppies. They (at least Toby) were sure that I had abandoned them for good this time. Then I forced them to go out in that terribly cold white stuff. Toby finally figured out to just tunnel his way thru the stuff and the tree would be there at the end of the journey. Millie was more than happy to let Toby lead. And of course they drug mommie everywhere they went.

Of course I have pictures. My car after spending the night on Lookout Mountain during the 2nd phase of the storm; pictures of Toby and Millie, and a picture I found on CNN.com.

This is a baby llama that allegedly got in the way of every picture the photographer framed.

Stay inside, stay cool, and most of all – drive for the weather, not the speed limit!