Christmas Time Is Here!

Yep, the blog looks a little different. It now reflects a bit of Christmas flare, since it's now time to get into the Christmas spirit! I'm already in the Christmas spirit! I began decorating my place a little last night and I finished up tonight. I don't go overboard with the decorating...not too much not too little! I actually feel a tiny bit behind since numerous places around the city decorated long before now.

I was truly excited this year to decorate my fireplace mantle. I had a fireplace last year but no mantle. I bought some new stocking holders for the boys stockings. Cody's stocking is hanging from a snowman holder and Simon's is hanging from a Santa Claus holder. Cute!

My mom recently sent me a snowman baker that she made for "her little baker" as the card she sent with the snowman read. I was set on that snowman being the first Christmas decoration to go up this year. And it was! Below is the baker snowman hanging above my sink in the kitchen. It looks good there.


By far the one new decoration that I am most proud of this year is my wreath. I finally got a wreath! I looked and looked for one last year but couldn't find one that I liked. So many of them are too over the top, too fragile, or too bizarre. I saw one that was pure white with funky bright colors that are typically associated with summertime not wintertime! This year I decided to buy a plain wreath and enhance it. I found just the right rather plain wreath and then bought the things I wanted displayed on the wreath including the bow. I'm so proud of the finished product I almost didn't want to hang it outside. I contemplated hanging it above the fireplace. Below is a pic of the finished product! Notice the cardinal at the top!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

It's Thanksgiving morning here in big D as I type this. We've had gorgeous picture perfect weather for days now. However, the "big chill" that was predicted has arrived. It's cloudy, windy, drizzly, and of course cold. On today's morning walk Cody shivered the whole way. He scoffed a bit at the cold wind coming at him too. It's certainly colder than last Thanksgiving but no big deal I don't mind. It's a hot cocoa type of day!

I made an apple pie and some chocolate chip cookies last night. I baked the pie then moved right along to baking the cookies. It was quite the evening! Great fun though!

Well I want to wish all a very Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone enjoys themselves immensely! I know for me I'm looking forward to being with my boyfriend and his family, as well as football and pie!

The Wasp Issue! part 2

Will our apartment ever be free of wasps? I'm not sure! The situation has definitely improved after having a few fires in the fireplace. But there's still a wasp or two each day that get in through the fireplace chimney. The thing is it's rather cold too, how are they surviving the temps? The high today was 66, during the night the temp will drop to the high 40s. Earlier this week we had a couple days with a bit of an icy wind. Apparently they're surviving the temps just fine in my chimney! Grr!

I guess I can't say Cody isn't doing his part to help with the issue. The other day I went to get something to collect the remains of a wasp when I returned Cody was eating it. I began to get irritated giving him a weird look but he gave me a look as if to say, "What? I'm only helping!". Moment of me becoming irritated ended super quick. Dogs do weird things! One less wasp to clean up thanks to Cody! LOL!!!

The Motorcycle Show!

Last weekend we went to the annual motorcycle show in downtown Dallas. I had so much fun with my boyfriend last year at my first motorcycle show I must admit I looked forward to going again this year. It's kind of similar to going through a museum. Motorcycles and gear galore! A lot more of a relaxed and casual atmosphere than you would find at most museums however. As a result of going to the show and thanks to my boyfriend I now have a new jacket to wear when we ride!

I know I'm not exactly a motorcycle enthusiast but I like going to the motorcycle show. It's nice to see the different styles of bikes and ATVs. Bikes that are artful expressions for someone. Bikes that make you question if it's actually drivable on the road. Bikes from the good 'ol days. Along with the many styles of bikes that are more practical. There was even one motor home that we walked through.

And of course I took plenty of pics! This year we had a better view of the motorcycle stunt show so I included a pic from the stunt show along with my other numerous pics. I would have to say the last four pics are among my faves! The 3rd pic down in the right column is interesting, it looked kind of like a face to us. The "eyes" are just under the windshield.

Sunday Football!

Woo-hoo! The Cowboys won yesterday. What a pleasant surprise. I really wasn't predicting a win for them. Curious to see how they do as the rest of the season goes on. Since I wasn't predicting a win for them I of course got that pick wrong on my weekly pick sheet. With a smile on my face I marked it incorrect along with the Cardinals game. However, I didn't mark the Cardinals game incorrect with a smile on my face, it was more of a scowl!

Word around town is that the Cowboys must win 5 games total under the interim coach in order for him to win the job of head coach for longer than the rest of this season! We shall see what happens! It's going to be entertaining!

Wasp Issue!

This past week I was dealing with a wasp problem in my apartment. Fun times! I looked over at one point Wednesday afternoon and noticed a wasp buzzing around in the windowsill. After closer inspection I realized it wasn't just 1 wasp it was 4 wasps. Seemed odd that 4 wasps could get in the apartment so I started checking around. It wasn't long before I witnessed a wasp flying out of the fireplace.

I had been hearing strange noises coming from the chimney but I assumed it was acorns falling into it. Never would have suspected wasps. Apparently wasps attempting to overtake chimneys in the Dallas area is a annual problem this time of year. Good to know!

The scariest scene was on Wednesday night, I opened the flume of the chimney and out swarmed numerous wasps. I screamed like a 10 year old girl while the boys barked. At one point there were so many wasps I couldn't handle it I had to just get out of the room let the wasps calm down because they were angry. That actually worked I returned to the living room awhile later and was able to get control of the wasp population.

We have been smoking the wasps out of the chimney. We've had 3 fires in the fireplace. No wasps since Friday so I think the issue is solved. However, the weather turned cold and rainy again on Friday so that likely helped cure the wasp problem.

Time Change!

As a former Zonie, I didn't grow up with the time change. Arizona refuses to participate while the rest of the United States adjusts it's clocks. Which means that all TV other than local TV gets messed up. Of the places I've lived the Central Time Zone is my favorite. National events are televised at more reasonable times here than anywhere else I've lived. I didn't like the Pacific Time Zone much. Monday Night Football came on before dinner time there. It does however seem to take me a few days to fully adjust when time change hits. The pugs mainly Simon have to adjust too!

Simon's inner clock(palm pilot) is very confused. He's continuing to expect things earlier than they are supposed to happen for him. Last night Cody definitely agreed with Simon that dinner should have be served earlier than it was!

Rule number 1 with time change is to change all your clocks don't forget to change one. Earlier today I was working in my spare room when I looked over at the clock in the room. I got a little freaked out thinking it couldn't be as late as the clock was showing. I had forgotten to change that particular clock!

Dallas Cowboys...YIKES!

Well the Cowboys were slaughtered last night by the Green Bay Packers. We actually turned it off, we couldn't take it any longer. The Cowboys fired their head coach today. The first time a coaching change has been made during the season while Jerry Jones has been owner.

I have received plenty of Cowboys jokes via text messages today. My oh my how life has changed. I now have to endure Cowboys jokes and defend them! Geesh!

Granted the Cardinals are doing better than the Cowboys this year but joking too freely about other teams is something Cardinals fans can't really do! The Cards gave up a 2 touchdown lead in the 4th quarter yesterday. Geez! Darn Favre and his miracle comebacks!

The Boys and Rainy Cold Days!

How does Cody deal with a cold rainy day? After we get back from a walk and he's in need of a toweling off. He first takes out his frustration on the towel. Good thing I use old towels on the boys. After he's done attempting to swing the towel from side to side I ask him if he feels better now that he got that out. He typically responds with a big sigh! Below are pics in sequence of the events of his "toweling off". Ah, poor cold Cody!

How does Simon cope with a cold rainy day? He comes in from the walk and goes directly to the space heater. He knows I'll be along very soon to turn it on for him. Once I turn it on he curls up next to it. He's definitely a heater hog! When we lived in Seattle the air vents there are near the floor not near the ceiling. Simon loved it! He was commonly nestled next to the low heater vent. I used to worry he was going to burn himself or catch on fire!

Interesting Day!!!

Have you ever had one of those days that's not terrible but some odd things go on that make it noteworthy? That's how my day was today. Not a bad day just a day that certainly made me laugh to myself as I recounted the day's events in my head awhile ago.

It's been a rainy day. Cold too! I'm not scared of the rain and I'm truly dedicated to my pugs. They need their long walk and I'm going to do my best each day to get their long walk in. Even if it means we have to walk in the rain. This morning we started out but the rain got harder and lightening seemed to be getting closer. So here we are a little ways away from home with the only option of jogging home. Cody understood we needed to hurry. He would run some then look back at me as if to say, "can we stop yet?". Simon wanted to eat acorns. So he was running but with his mouth open trying his best to shovel in as many acorns as possible as we whisked by. By the time late afternoon came around I wanted to attempt the long walk again. When we headed out it was raining however nothing too major. Well of course the rain ended up getting worse as we neared the end of our walk. So once again there I was jogging with 2 pugs home. I don't think I have to say this, it should be a bit obvious but pugs are not jogging type of dogs....I'm sure we all looked like a bit of a comedy routine during 2 of our walks today.

At dinner time I had things in the oven and one item on the stove. I went into the kitchen to check the item on the stove when my eye was immediately drawn to the flames that were on the stove. Yes, I said flames! That's the first time I've ever seen flames in my kitchen(any of my kitchens). I've caught a oven mitt on fire before but that was a tiny flame about the size of a flame on the tip of a match....these were FLAMES! Within seconds of me noticing the flames the smoke detectors erupted in blaring fashion. I was able to get the small fire put out on my own. But it was tense for a few moments. The flames were caused by a large piece of veggie with oil on it that had fallen under the burner. Where did Cody go during this latest smoke detector episode? Under the bed! He stayed under my bed for a very long time. I finally had to go get him and assure him everything was okay.

After dinner Simon tore up a brand new toy within minutes of me giving it to him. Then Cody went over and tried to eat the stuffing from the torn up toy. Geesh! Simon can be so destructive to his toys! And Cody can still act like a puppy that doesn't know any better than to eat stuffing. Wow!

So from jogging with the pugs in a thunderstorm to a small fire in the kitchen to the boys antics. Interesting day!

Let's Go Rangers!!!!

Well no World Series title for Texas. San Francisco won the title last night. Nothing to be down about though. They had an awesome season. Something that they can hopefully build on.

I was happy the Texas fans at the game were classy. No reports of fans spitting on opposing team's family members. No signs being held up that disrespected an entire city. I liked that as San Francisco celebrated in the middle of the field Texas fans chanted "Let's Go Rangers!".

The drought for not appearing in the World Series is over!!!!