40/40

even though i am one of the worst catholics ever, i have been half-assedly observing lent for the past few years. i make a promise and keep it for the season but i don't go to church for ash wednesday or easter so that's where the half-assedness comes into play. technically though that's only not showing up for two days so maybe that is the easy part (oops, forgot all the weekly masses-it's been years). the tough part is not giving into temptation (if you're giving something up), or laziness (if you're striving do to more).

my sister and i usually make the same promise since it will be easier to keep if we have a support system. the first year was french fries, last year was all manner of potatoes and this year we've chosen fast food. since we don't go for fast food all that often, we're each adding another side promise of sorts. hers is no starbucks. we haven't decided on mine yet. she tried to say mine should be to take out the bathroom trash but i do, as well as the kitchen trash, eight times out of ten. we gotta think of something fast since whatever it will be was supposed to start today.

at lunchtime we went to dollar tree to get some huge socks and rice to make rice sock heating pads and we had to check out the easter stuff. i got some plastic carrots (like easter eggs) to hide for my niece. i also bought her some addition/subtraction postcards and construction paper. did you know they have chocolate praying hands for easter? i've seen crosses but never the hands. i love the praying hands, maybe its the wannabe cholo in me.

crop image

sunday afternoon i got a long overdue haircut. i don't think i've been in since late september/early october. that's a lot of time for tons of unhealthiness to happen, but luckily we are fans of the chop. i was starting to feel pleased with my recent efforts at healthiness, but this really put me over the edge. getting rid of the extra hair was just as important as getting rid of the extra inches elsewhere.

i went from not feeling myself, to wanting to feel myself, all the time, kidding, but you get the idea. i was really afraid it would go to my head and in a way it did. i got a lovely breakout on my forehead, which is all the more prominent due to the 'do. queen helene is gonna take care of it for me, but i am gonna keep working it regardless, hooray for misdirection.

slick chick

it's supposed to rain again over the next two weeks and the past two weeks have made me well aware of how unprepared we californians are for "weather" when we finally get some. i had one pair of trail type boots from 8 years ago and a columbia jacket, but no real coverage in the event of a downpour. it doesn't usually rain enough to be worried about it and i'd rarely been out of doors so it didn't bother me.

things change when you have a furry friend who is entirely dependent on you. taking the dog out in the rain wasn't that bad, except for going through multiple pairs of jeans, socks, shoes, a day. did i mention i only have about two pairs of jeans/shoes? don't worry i'm good on socks. i needed to get some rain gear, even if only for one month of the year. i tried on some boots at wal-mart last weekend really quick but they were too big. today i went to try again and also to get a slicker or some other coverage. i found a rainsuit and boots in my size. with that and some sound advice from a more experienced friend, i'm officially rain ready. i know i'll look pretty stupid since according to toni tony toné it never rains in southern california, but at least i won't look like a drowned rat.

p.s. i also got a new towel for ms. p to dry her off when we get home. i've thought of getting a dog raincoat or rigging something up for her but i don't think she minds the rain as long as she's moving. we usually are a block away from home when it starts up, we've been lucky.

guess who's back

maybe it is more what than who, but it looks like after almost two months of working it, my waist is coming soon to a town near you. it's like seeing an old friend. lock up your sons! the emancipation of tété is nigh.

above average

last night i went bowling with my sister and her co-workers. it was their post-holiday holiday party. it started out rocky but by the end of the night i was rocking out and acting a fool just like when we had our league. i played two great games, beating my old average by 10 and then about 20 points. but the best part of the evening was putting on some jeans i haven't worn in over three years and having them fit.

none of this has anything on tonight's agenda: murder city devils! the left coast is getting some love at last.

v.d.

i got two super cute tops for myself at the h+m, one is casual and one is dressy. gotta be prepared, right? i finished nick and norah's infinite playlist (the book), loved it, must get my own copy. i have 2/3 of my sjaak's valentine chocolates left and am soon to take my lovely pup out for a walk. so it should balance.

commercial holidays are bunk but it's a boost our egos and economy could use right now. love yourselves.

ready for the good part

as pleased as i am with how well things are going with the dogs, i have to give myself a break and hang out with some people or i am going to forget what that is like and might get beat up for sniffing strangers. luckily i have had a date burning a hole in my calendar for the past few months and it is fast approaching.

monday night i am going to see the murder city devils. i haven't been to the venue in two or three years, and haven't been to a show in about one year. you really have to remember to rock. it's easy to forget that as you get older and sometimes fall out of touch with what's going on, but if you really reach out you can still get your wrinkly fingers on the pulse of the times, even if they're old ones. those are the best kind.

sunday busy sunday

today has been great so far, it's definitely my most relaxed day in the past week. my niece is with her dad, my sister is at work and my parents are off for some casino hijinx so it's just me and the dogs, who are thick as thieves once again.

i really thought the rain was going to be an obstacle to reuniting them, but it's actually been a great help. my mom refuses to keep carmela inside anymore so they've no choice but to huddle together in their house and keep each other warm. they're all snuggled in right now taking a nap and i've not skipped a single one of ms. penny's walks. we've become quite efficient at dodging the rain, it usually doesn't start up until we're a block or two from home. last night we got hit hard for the last few minutes but it was worth it. i know if i miss once, it will make it easier for me to miss again and i can't do that. we needs our walking.

the kids came back from their overnight trip tired, hungry, slightly grouchy and bearing gifts. i didn't expect anything so it was a nice surprise. i got a huge mofo grizzly bear soup mug and a pair of socks with raccoons on 'em, cute! my niece also picked out a pine cone for me and they smuggled out some snow in the hotel ice bucket. i made some nutro cheese from you won't believe it's vegan and after a few alterations we had ourselves some nachos. i was a little bummed out my niece didn't like them since i had her in mind when i made it, but what can you do? not everyone is going to like everything i cook, self included.

i'm getting a lot done, laundry, dishes, and my recipe binder project. i've been trying a lot harder lately to make better use of my free time. i am taking super advantage of the empty house today, tell you that much.

(t)raining day

after the kids were all packed off for their overnight to the mountains, it was time to take ms. penny for her walk. it was about an hour later than i would normally take her so she was already waiting at the door to go out. i'm glad she is getting used to the schedule. i put carmela in the kitchen with the baby gate and we left.

i think this was our best walk to date. we did a lap at the park and on the way out saw our neighbor at the school. i stopped to chat and she sat quietly the whole time and my neighbor's little boy pet her. they were in love. we stopped by work to say hi to a few people too and she was very well behaved. since the rain was giving us a break we took it and stayed out for a little over an hour. in case we aren't so lucky later i wanted to make sure we got out exercise.

when i got home i realized someone else was not on her best behavior. carmela knocked the gate over (maybe i didn't put it up as good as i thought) as well as leaving me two surprises under the coffee table in the living room and a few more in my mom's room. thank god we have oxyclean carpet cleaner and i have a few more hours before anyone will be home to notice. i do feel bad for leaving her cooped up for so long but there was a pad in the kitchen and one in my mom's room too. my dog isn't the only one who needs work.

right now all three dogs are huddled in the dog house keeping each other warm. they haven't all been together since the fight last week and so far they are doing well. i had taken penny out a few times on lead to get reacquainted but i know they could sense my nervousness even though i was trying to be calm. they have to learn to tolerate each other and they won't ever do that if i keep them apart. i'm really hoping for this to work out. i've been putting in my proper effort and i'm hoping for support from my mom and dad with their dogs, but if i have time, i am going to put in work with them as well. it's two way learning. they need to be obedient and i could definitely step up my game when it comes to being assertive.

here is the real bad girl of the house:

free penny!

after some chats with the trainer and looking around on the internets there are a few reasons why ms. p could have snapped the other day. first is redirected aggression: all three of our dogs were in a frenzy about the neighbor's dog on the other side of the fence and couldn't get to him, so she went after her closest rival instead. second factor, she is in her first heat cycle, which i just found out the other day when i nearly freaked about blood on the patio, but a quick check under her tail was a huge relief.

for now i'm keeping them separated until we can get both bitches spayed. i know i am 3 months late in taking my dog in but my mom's dog should have gone well over a year ago. i'm not the only "bad" owner but i am sure as dogshit making a better go of it from now on. she has an appt. next week and i'm going to set up ms. p for a few weeks after that since we have to wait for her cycle to finish up/wind down.

it's a little crazy right now keeping everyone safe. i really doubt anything will happen but since someone is still super sensitive and scared, i'm not taking any chances. she had one walk yesterday, today will be the first full "normal" day. i came home at lunch to walk her and will take her out again after dinner. right now she's running loose and we had some play time soon as i got home.

we should both be a lot less bitchy after we get the exercise we both need. i just keep praying this will work if i work it. we'll see if there is much change after she's spayed, but that still gives me time to work with her other issues and it should be easier to find her a home at that point. but of course i am aiming to keep her here.