Broken

Two of my most used, most valuable kitchen gadgets have broken in the past week.  As mom always said, things happen in three.  I have been waiting for the third gizmo to call it quits, but so far, so good.

The first causality was my Whirly Pop popcorn popper.  Luckily, it broke just as it was done popping.  The only bad thing was the little gear thingy that broke off ended up in my popcorn.  I found it without breaking any teeth, though.  My in-house Whirly Pop popcorn popper repair person (say that three times fast) thought he would be able to fix it, but no, I have to get a new one.

At Least They Were Free

A few weeks ago, Randy decided that we needed a toaster oven.  I didn't disagree, although I really don't cotton to 'stuff' cluttering up my kitchen counters.  After a month of research, Randy finally decided on a Breville, a brand I had never heard of.  But then again, I don't keep up on the hot new news on toaster ovens.

Ask me what I think about the possibility of Pikmin 3 being released for the Wii, however, I can give you the up-to-date information as I see it.

Anyway ~

Bulk Bin Free For All

This post was written before our move to Mountain Home.  A time when Kroger and Sprouts Farmer's Market were still in our lives.  A time when I didn't have to depend on Cristy to send me any provisions that I beg, I mean, ask for.  I love our small town, but I wouldn't protest if a Sprout's opened up next to Papa Murphy's.

If you are up to a good laugh at my expense, look at the watermark on the pictures in this post and the 'Duck' post.  Notice something that is not quite right?  Jon, where are you when I need you?  So ready to tell me when I use 'me' and 'I' improperly, but you missed this?

FYATHYRIO.  I am not changing 'em.

Now, on to important matters ...

Why is it that people think the stuff in the bulk bins at grocery store is fair game and free to them?

Sometimes You're the Duck

Randy and I, for some strange reason, have been quite the busy bees lately.  And this busyness has taken us away from our sanctuary in Mountain Home (Arkansas, not Idaho) everyday this past week, except for one day we were able to stay home for the entire day.

The house is a mess of clutter and disorganization.  What is it that makes a house get so cluttered up when you are gone?  I must have clutter elves that live in the woods sneak into the house and throw things around.  I'd rather have Keebler elves.

We Could Be Rednecks ...

... We have an unused satellite dish that is decorated with old CD's that we use for a shooting target.  We also, on occasion, hang Mountain Dew cans from a tree branches.  One can't have too many targets to aim for.

Because He Loves Me

It's Valentine's Day!  Y'all know what that means ...

Candy, flowers and cards professing undying love written in glitter with a fancy cursive font.

In twenty four years of wedded bliss, I can count on one finger how many times Randy has given me candy for Valentine's Day and on three fingers how many times he has sent me flowers.

Thank You, Dale

Starting my senior year in high school, I worked for Northwest Metal Products Company, or NorWesCo, for twenty eight years before leaving in 2006.  NorWesCo wasn't a small company, it wasn't a large company.  Located in downtown Kent when I started in 1977, the company relocated to Fife in 1994 when the city of Kent purchased the land to build the Regional Justice Center.

I think that my generation is close to the last where once you got a job, for the most part, you stayed at that job until you retired.  It wasn't unheard of for employees to stay with the company where I worked for anywhere up to forty plus years.  I think now, if one has that kind of longevity at a job, you are looked at as there is something wrong with you.

I 'borrowed' this picture from Jack.  I think that it was taken somewhere around 1980 or there abouts.  Hysterical.  From the left:  Betty  Ebel, Lil Jones, Sharon Park. Jerry Edwards, Bill Rodwell, Dale, Glen Emery, Paul Lewis, and that may be me on the very right.  I am not admitting anything.  My father-in-law to be (in about seven years), Chuck is sitting at the table.  Gotta repeat it.  Hysterical.

Snow Snow and More ...

... Snow

This morning when Roxy and I woke up it was snowing lightly, with just a light dusting on the ground.  By the time I finished fixin' myself up real purty for the day, the snow was falling quite heavily and a couple of inches had piled up.

It's Their Chicken Nuggets, Y'all

As far as religious, political or moral views, I rarely will take a vocal stand on what I believe.  However, if you ask me whether big paper clips should be mixed in with little paper clips, I may just give you an earful.  I am not liberal, I am not conservative.  I am just Dorothy.  Brought up in the Lutheran church, I have been a Christian all my life.  As for born again, I am born again at the start of every single new day when I wake up.  If you ask my opinion, I will tell you, but you won't find me attempting to sway anyone to my side of the football field.

I say football field in honor of Super Bowl XLV, to be held today in my former stomping grounds of North Texas.

It Was Wonderful While It Lasted

Last Friday and Saturday was a beautiful day in the Ozarks.  The sun was out, a light breeze, the temperatures hit the mid-60's.  It was much too nice of a day to spend inside.  So out I went and ended up working my tail off.

What a difference a week makes.  This was before THE WORST STORM OF THE CENTURY that didn't hit Mountain Home (Arkansas, not Idaho) as it was predicted.  We are not, however, being left out of this wintery weather in getting cold, snow, freezing rain, cold, sleet and more cold.

Bad Dog Parent

Poor Roxy.

I really, really mean that.    

It started yesterday evening when the entertainment choice for the evening was 'Terminator: Salvation'.  Randy and I darn near needed a flow chart to figure out who was who and who went back in time and who went forward in time and was younger than their son.

See what I mean?  A flow chart.

In order for us to hear the actors mumbling their lines, the volume was turned up quite a bit.  Having the volume up made the attack scenes too loud and it really bothered Roxy.  I did my best to lower the volume when I thought the Machines were preparing to attack.  However, if the Machines told the Resistance when they were going to attack, that would ruin the element of surprise.

That was a round-a-bout way of saying that in most cases, I wasn't always able to lower the volume in time.

Poor Roxy.

I woke up very early this morning - to the tune of 3:30am.   As I lay there trying to get back to sleep, I decided to worry about the sound the heat pump was making.  After listening to it for a while, I asked Randy if he was sleeping.  Of course he said "No".  

At least he didn't say "Not now".

My neurotic questioning woke up Roxy and so I took her outside in the wind, in the cold, in the snow to pee.  I climbed back into bed, but still sleep eluded me.  Roxy must not have been able to get back to sleep either, because she started pacing the house and was crying a bit.

I feel so bad in saying that I ignored her.

I finally drifted off to a weird dream filled sleep and Roxy woke me up again about 6:30am.  We got up and took our walk outside in the wind, in the cold, in the snow.

From early on, Roxy has been very, very good with being house-broken.  It was almost too easy.  Yes, we had accidents.  She didn't come from the shelter with any training whatsoever - except to bite.  It has been eons since we have had an accident.  This morning, I woke up to not only one, but two messes.

Poor Roxy.

It's not her fault.  She tried to tell me.  But I was a lazy dog parent and chose to not pay attention to her.

After cleaning up and doing a load of laundry, you would have thought that I would have learned my lesson.  But no.  Mid-morning, Roxy started to whine and cry.  Both Randy and I thought it was because she wanted some attention.  In an attempt to teach her to entertain herself, we ignored her.  After a bit, Randy and I put on our fur and paws and went outside with her in the wind, in the cold, in the snow.

I should have listened.  Roxy had more business to attend to.

All is right with her world now.  She is sacked out on the couch in between Randy and I, with her favorite toys around her, being petted and dozing.  I think I will grab my blanket and snuggle up next to her.

Have the BEST day ever!

~ Dorothy