Beautiful autumn day

Gifted

Some say that I am 'gifted' (the only ones who mean that in a good way usually being my parents). But apparently this is a day to get gifts. This morning was a big one - Curt got me the Rosetta Stone french 123 software that I have been fantasizing about for the past year. When it arrived I nearly passed out. It is ex-pen-sive (at least by my standards) and never thought we would actually get it. So, will have to post updates as to how well it is working (or rather how well I am working using it).

Next, Dad came over and cut down several of the dead dogwoods that were worrying me (such as the one leaning against the power lines, another leaning against the neighbors fence and one about to fall across the road out front). He even cut them up so we could use the big bits as firewood for the house and the smaller branches in the big burning ring he gave us out back.

Finally, a card came across the pond to Mr. from Mum. It was clearly a birthday card sent early (he doesn't actually pass into another year until the middle of next month), but that didn't stop him from opening it up now. A nice check fell out that he jokes should just about cover the Rosetta Stone software.

Off I go to the bank and then home again to start downloading lessons. Hopefully this karma hangs around for a while - a gal could get used to days like this!

Scratchy

Clovis has been scratching. We treated the place for fleas and gave them multiple baths/topical treatments/oral medicines. Clovis is still scratching. He made some sores on his tummy. In order to inhibit his ability to flay himself, we have been wrapping him in gauze and athletic tape. It's been helping some.
Today, Mr. got a hold of some dog booties. Unfortunately, the little guy just kicks them right off. Thus, we've had to revert back to wrapping him. At least he's all set for a Halloween costume. Here are a couple of pics. See him giving me the evil eye? Poor bugger, I'd be cursing me too....

Punks

The punkies (with a little help from Mumma & Gammy) carved us some beauts! We're hoping they get a little soft before Saturday. The plan is to put candy inside & make the beasties reach inside the gooey cavity for their sugar. Ha - when did I get so eeeeeeeeeevil?

Thanks Judy

I love my new scarf & I looooooooooove that you finally got down here for a visit (so does Ernie)!

Postulate

I was grasping for a word yesterday. 'It's like a cross between conclude and guess and for some reason I think it sounds like proselytize' was the best description I could give Curt. Pathetic, that's not even really right. In the middle of the night, I woke up remembering the word I had been searching for. So, I spent 6 hours working on that one which is even more pathetic!

Television

We don't have a tv per se, but we do watch a few shows the next day on Hulu. Every once in a while we catch the Family Guy. I find it to be hit or miss, but for some reason this one had us in stitches...

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Store bought vs. homemade

So I know that I'm in the minority what with no job, kids, whateva to make me lose my sanity. This gives me time (and lack of dough) to work on homemade projects.

Once upon a time, I was of the opinion that making something for someone showed a certain caring that most store bought things did not. However, this is a theory that put in to practice does not seem to hold up so well.

Sure, there are people like dear Kara who makes a fantastic lace scarf in the time it takes me to read one of my cheap thrillers, Sean who can whip out a cake like it's nobody's business or Jenny who can stage plants and pottery to look so good that I'm afraid to even stop in at the nursery (again, the lack of money thing). But these are all people with that elusive quality known as 'talent' Supposedly, everybody has some, but I'm not all that sure (this doubt is reinforced by 90% of the music I hear every time the radio is on).

Yeah, yeah, yeah, 'practice makes perfect' and all that jazz. Maybe I'm just stubborn. 4 years of Spanish = a basic understanding of curse words & random phrases. A life time of painting, drawing & still can't get a straight line without using a hard edge (stupid lines, make me mad).

Anyhow, I hope that Annelise is more forgiving than I am. Here's the birthday cake she's getting...

Kickin it old school, sorta

Curt was chomping at the bit to see Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Like A.O. Scott, the NY Times reviewer, at first I wasn't sure if this was a real band or a sort of Spinal Tap rip-off (esp. upon hearing the name Robb Reiner)

This documentary was decent though. I love to be pleasantly surprised by a film. Maybe 'pleasantly' is the wrong word to use though. While it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and one must admire their tenacity, it was sort of awful at the same time. How is an 80's style heavy metal band going to make it with the recording industry now? Let alone that they aren't just 80's style, but actual 80's heavy metal (putting them in their early 50's now).

Anyhow, it's worth watching if you were ever into bands like Metallica, Slayer, Twisted Sister, Merciful Fate, etc. I was more of a Ramones, Poison, Cinderella freak, so close enough. Here's a youtube of the trailer if you're interested.