Summer Cuts

Remember these lovely pups from the Farm?  Lots of fur to scratch!




One is named Snowball



And the other is Frosty

I can't tell the difference but Jakes can.  It doesn't matter.  They are still loveable no matter what you call them.  I imagine with all the fur, they get hot when as soon as it gets warm.  So Ms. Jill takes them for their summer cuts and this is what comes out.

Lookit how Skinny they look without their FUR!



Sweet Face!

Are you ready for a Picnic?



Picnics are romantic and fun, right?  Once you have the right equipment, like a basket to carry everything thing in, a bottle of wine and the right person to share it with.

Thanks to Daddy and ESM, I'm all set for a lovely picnic!

The beautiful basket





Everything you need, expect the
wine and the guy!





Now to round up the bottle and the guy!










I might share pictures of the picnic too.  :)

It MY spot! - WW

Jaxon Stole AZ's spot in the bed
Almost before AZ was out of the bed!

Tuesday Tidbits

I missed all last week.  Where did it go?  So much happening!

AZ has finally made appointments with pain drs, dentist and the eye dr.  He says he's tired of being sick, feeling sick and sitting on the couch.  FINALLY!  He's been awake and participating in life around the house.  I'm happy but afraid to trust that it will stay this way.  Only time will tell.  In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy it.

Choir is done until the fall.  We had a wonderful spring concert and then sang for the local college graduation.  The place was PACKED and the ceremony was so boring.  I was able to read while they were calling the names.  Even our conductor was checking out a magazine.

Work is boring, as usual.  This is the slow time of the year for grant writing and contract making.  I'm working on researching foundations.  Boring work.  I want something challenging. 

Jakes is getting ready for 8th grade graduation.  He's excited for the end of the school year, but then what student or teacher isn't?  Now comes the fighting over the tickets for the ceremony with his father.  I hope he doesn't act like an ass for Jakes sake.

I'm getting a new camera.  A friend is letting me borrow it. I think he hopes that I will want to buy it from him.  He's probably right!  But its a VERY nice one with changeable lenses and filters and all that good stuff.  I hope he's going to include lessons with it.  But you will get to benefit from awesome pictures!  Stay tuned!

Monkey Carnage

Jaxon LOVES stuffed animals that have long arms and legs.  He loves being able to shake his head all around and beat himself up with the arms and legs.  ESM goes to yard sales and picks up monkeys on the cheap and the two dogs share them. 

I've posted before about the tug of wars the pups have with each other.  The tug of wars tend to destroy the monkeys.

Here is the monkey carnage from Mother's Day Weekend.  ESM brought fresh monkeys.

Jaxon goes for the face.

Judging from the carnage, the Pups had a great weekend!

Are You Stuck? - WW

The Camping Trip

We went. We set up.  We enjoyed the camping life between the rain storms.



Jaxon was eager to get started.
He and Oscar fought for window space on the ride to the camp ground



Getting set up.  Almost done.

Oscar relaxing by the fire

Its been a long day.
Just let me sleep.

It was all over before we knew it.  So we packed up to come home.  Going to make reservations for the fourth of July weekend.

eReader vs. Kindle vs. iPad

I have an eReader.  Its one of the first ones to come out. It doesn't have wi-fi so if I want to add books to it, I have to hook it to my computer and download the eBooks to it that way.  When I got it, I chose this one because its PINK and also because it didn't have wi-fi.  I was afraid if I got a Kindle I would spend too much money.  I like the size and it can be read easily outside, especially on the beach.

Then I got an iPad which I LOVE!  There are so many cool apps for it and there is so much that you can do with it.  You can also read Kindle books on it.  I've fallen in love with FREE Kindle books!  There are SO many!  I've been downloading between 30-40 every day!They may not be some of the popular best selling authors but there are some great books out there.  But you can't read the iPad on the beach.

Since getting the iPad, I haven't used my eReader much.  But with beach days only days away, I need to figure out something to take to the beach with me.  With most of my books being Kindle Format, I've been kicking around getting a Kindle.  But I hate the thought of having yet another gadget hanging around the house. And I really don't have the money to spend on another gadget.

The other day I started playing around with my eReader. I had to upgrade the software but the new version of the software is a pain to use and the help files don't match the program.  I tried to delete books off the eReader but when I went to follow the directions provided, they didn't match up with the program.  Frustrating to say the least.

I guess I ultimately would like to find a website similar to the Kindle Store but for ePub books that work on my eReader.  Anyone know of such a website?

Now, of course if Amazon wants to send me a Kindle, I'll take it!  I'll even do a review on here on it!

Concussion - WW

Poor Jaxon doesn't seem to see the screen door.

Its hard to see but there is a slice in the screen.



Jaxon keeps running into the screen door.

This time was at full speed.

Poor baby was scared to come in after this run-in.

Tidbits

Just a few quick thoughts to share......

From the news:

Do we really care that the Gov. of NJ had weight loss surgery?  I don't.  Now that I know, I'm glad he's doing what is necessary to make himself the healthiest person he can be.  I wish him luck.

Did you know that Jim Thorpe's kids and grandkids are fighting over where he's buried?  The kids want him moved from the town of Jim Thorpe where he has rested for over 60 years.  If I was Jim, I'd come back and haunt my son's for moving me.

So happy those women who have been missing for so long have been found!  I'll be following the story for more details.  They certainly are blessed.

From ME:

I am sick and tired of writing mental health policies at work.  This means I have to read the boring regulations necessary to be able to write the policies to fit into my agencies business.  I'm so bored!  And need a mental health vacation.......

Things with AZ and I are going well.  I've started making some decisions about this portion of my life but I need some input from my therapist so I can finish.  There is time for finishing.

I went for a bike ride yesterday.  I wasn't going to but AZ reminded me I should.  It was a great ride!  The gears worked wonderfully and it felt great to stretch my legs and just breathe......  Thanks for the push, AZ!

Jakes called me yesterday!  I hadn't heard from him in about a week.  He made me happy just by calling. Guess I'll be seeing him this Mother's Day Weekend.

I still have a couple of the songs from the concert bouncing around my head.  I'm so sick of being in my head right now.  The songs are fun, but not after three days.......

When is it time to go to the beach??  I am so looking forward to a day of sitting in the sand with a book in my hand.  Soon!

To my friends on the East Coast: stay dry and check with your local emergency services for the nearest Ark!  There's a massive storm dropping lots of rain up and down the coast.   Be Safe!

Busy Weekend

Oh my! What a busy weekend!  I was so busy I almost wished I was at work so I could relax. 

The quickie:  There was two trips to the bike repair store.  Two trips to the local college for singing in my concert.  A trip to the parents for a visit.  Grocery shopping and a little work on reclaiming my flower bed.

Details:  The concert was fun, as always.  We sang a selection from Rogers's and Hammerstein's Carousel, Braums and some other spiritual songs.  Our Director sang a solo and it was the first time many of us had heard him sing.  He has a wonderful voice!

The trips to the bike repair shop was unfortunate because some people have to borrow my bike and break it.  But of course, its never their fault and they are never made to make good on it.  But the bike is now locked up and I am the only one with the key to it.  I did make a stop at Starbucks which was almost on the way to the repair shop.  Love my Frappichinos!

Dad and ESM were having issues with some spam from their email account so I stopped over to help out with that.  Of course, it became more involved than I anticipated.

I am working on reclaiming a flower bed.  Its all grass so I have to cultivate it, scoop out the grass and roots, then cultivate it again for anything I can't get out by hand.  BUT I did find Tulips and daffodils in there which I think I will transplant.   I will work some more on that tonight after work.

Grocery shopping needs no details.  I still can't figure out why it takes 2 hours to get through the store.....  But if you are trailing a teenager that might explain some of it.

At least the sun was shining and it was warm!  Overall, a good weekend!  Tell me about yours!

Fighting Failure - Again

I want to avoid everything associated with all this.  I am so confused about what I want to do with my personal life.  Do I want to try things again?  Do I want to fight for this?  Do I want to try and make things work or do I just want to disengage from the situation until I can get out?

What happens if I decide to fight for this again? I have a chance at happiness, love and someone to share life with.  There also is a chance that I will have my hopes and dreams dashed again.

What happens if I disengage right now?  I already have to some extent.  I have spent time in my room, alone or with the dog.  There is no one to talk to, to share life with.  Its a lonely existence.  I realize that if I get my own place, it won't be as lonely but still lonely.  But it will be a loneliness of my choosing instead of what is a self-imposed exile.

I am pretty sure I want to stay and make things work.  But I don't know that I want to fight failure again.  I failed in my fight for my marriage. I failed in my fight to keep Jakes with me and I keep failing with him on each and every visit we have.  So far in this relationship, it has been a failure.  So the big question is, Am I ready/willing to fight for what stands a very good chance of being another failure?

I don't know.  I just don't know.  I also don't know how to figure that out.

May Day

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Happy May!