Today is turning out nice. It is much warmer outside then it has been for awhile and Pluto really took to playing with the first stuffed animal with a squeeky toy in it that we got for him when he moved in. That is my latest plan. To bring toys outside where he will hopefully play with them and then catch on that he can play with toys INSIDE the house too. I made a few more snoflakes and then did the poor's man varnish (which is to put then inside of clear tape and trim the edges) and put the on the bay window. Yesterday, I put clear plastic on all the windows except two in the office because we had misjugded the size of a few windows. Hm...it's better to have bigger windows than small ones, right?

I am going to be baking two pies today! A custard pie and a pumpkin pie to bring tomorrow. His mom usually buys the already made pies, but I think homemade are much better. Especially the crust, I am a big fan of pastries and so the crust is important. I have never made a custard pie, so that is going to be a new experience.

Uff speaking of food, I should eat something right now. I am feeling really peckish and the decaf coffee went straight to my system and made it feel all grumpy. OH did I mention I fixed our tub drain too? The other day it wasn't draining at all, so I took matters into my own hands and fixed it. All I needed to do was plunge it (something I would have done anyway), but what really made it work was putting petroluem jelly around the edges. It makes it so that the contact with the tub is a air tight fit and way more powerful. It was awesome. Taking a shower today was a dream.

[Warmed up some leftover chicken casserole]

I am looking forward to tomorrow. Greg and Bekah are making an appearance after three years! This will the be the first time her parents meet her french husband Greg. I can't wait to see what Greg thinks of it, how the day goes, the jello, the turkey (I really hope they make it instead of ham), and the day trip. I don't know what we are going to do with Pluto because his parent's have like five or six little ankle biters and he hates small dogs and barking. He gets all afraid and whiny.

Tonight Tim and I are going to this little ELCA Lutheran church I found in our neighborhood. Instead of having a Thanksgiving morning service, they do a service the night before, followed by a coffee hour (so the little old lady informed me on the telephone) and we are welcome to come. Ahh lutherans and their coffee and cookies. We were going to check out this church last weekend but we both slept in too late and it was cold. Hopefully it will make a favorable impression tonight, so that we can finally have found a church.

Well, off to bake. Have a happy thanksgiving guys!

Click on the invitation... And just for the taste of it, I am going to refresh and be the 4000 visitor to my own site. :P

I got a letter from Virginia today and she sent incense! Cool. It smells really nice in here because I lit one of them about five minutes ago. Ahh...there's nothing like a nice letter to really set the mood for the day. This weekend we bought a hair dryer! But for the purpose of home improvement...although I think I might be using it too. We bought it to make the shrink wrap plastic for the windows work. I think I am going to tackle the girls room today. The windows aren't that drafty, but you know I can't stand the thought of any money going to waste.

Maybe I will write a little more later. I want to take a shower, take out the dog and get dressed. I decided to wear a fancy velvet shirt that I got from Callie a few years back for the hell of it.

A woman was shopping at her local supermarket where she selected a half-gallon of 2% milk, a carton of eggs, a quart of orange juice, a head of romaine lettuce, a 2 lb. can of coffee, and a 1 lb. package of bacon. As she was unloading her items on the conveyor belt to check out, a drunk standing behind her, watched as she placed the items in front of the cashier.While the cashier was ringing up her purchases, the drunk calmly stated: "You must be single." The woman was a bit startled by this proclamation. But, she was equally intrigued by the derelict's intuition, since she was indeed single. She looked at her six items on the belt and saw nothing particularly unusual about her selections that could have tipped off her drunken observer to her marital status. Curiosity getting the better of her, she said, "Well, you know what, you're absolutely correct, but how on earth did you know that?" The drunk replied: "Cause you're ugly."

HA!

Funny! Tim sent me that one today...he knows I have a sophisticated sense of humor. :D And our Netflix movies arrived today! I signed up Wednesday afternoon and RIGHT NOW I have three DVD's to watch. How awesome is that?

Ahh...much better today. In addtion to Tim's great suggestions, he went out of his way to buy me an arrangement (that he made himself) of flowers. What a sweetie. IT's so nice outside I want to go and do something. I was going to take Pluto for a walk but got stuck on the phone with Cingular because we were idiots and couldn't figure out how to set up our own voice mail. Blah. Now it's close the kids being let out of school and walking a big, black dog makes some children nervous.

Even though he is a big sweetie. Which he is. Maybe a bike ride? But where? I could go to Woodmans....and see what they have to offer although I think we are going tonight. [ ..asking Tim now...] Ahh. He gave me the ever typical male comment "If you want."

What I want is more green beads. This tree business is really fun. I wonder where I can get some...the beads I got at BJ were a dollar twenty for a package and I had gotten two...maybe I could go and get another color of green? It's the best I have over in my neck of the woods and I hate to even buy beads from craft stores ..but.... but...

Bummed today. Apparently the other woman that had undercut me in the babysitting for Sophie flaked out, and now the Mom, with good cause, is considering just moving Sophie to a different school where she wouldn't have worry about after school care anymore. If she had just gone with me! I had put a lot of thought into it and had really settled into the idea of doing it everyday until June. It would have been awesome. In any case, she called to tell me that Sophie didn't need picking up today because she was testing out the school, and she thought I only wanted a day or two a week. Which was not the case. I did tell her that...but we shall see. She is going to talk it over with her family and Sophie and decide by Friday.

Sucks. I really liked it too. Now I feel worthless today. I did send out and application for St. Mary's to work as a unit secretary for eight hours a week... at the time I thought it would have been a good supplement for being undercut four days and since it pays 11.60 it would have been comparable.

I don't want to work full time. I want something part time that is meaningful and helpful to others. But I do want to make an extra 200 - 400 a month. At least time made me feel better. He suggested:

1. Picking up poop in backyard
2. Sign up for NetFlix (which I should do because I really want to see the Santa Claus II)
3. Go to East Towne Mall and do some shopping

Long term:

1. Find a charity I admire and look into volunteering.
2. Find a job I have always wanted to do and try it.

And then I thought of taking Pluto out for a walk in the sunshine to let these suggestions sink in. I think he enjoyed his walk, but Pluto is being a bit putzy today. I also made some tea...now I think I am going to do some beadwork and take my mind off of everything.

Something will turn up. This wouldn't have happened otherwise, right?

Dang it. I had written a nice long post and then my crappy key board and my fingers had an argument. I was given a chance to save it or cancel it without saving. I took the obvious choice and saved it. But now I have no idea where it might have gone.

Sigh. What a cruel joke. Now I have to start over.

Tim's birthday party was a resounding success. The Benninghoff Birthday Curse has been abolished! I think the key might be turning a new decade. Thank you again to everyone that came. Tim really, really had a good time. Our bar is now well stocked and we can start getting the bonus things like Ammaretto and stuff to make fancy drinks. Grampa Geisler even gave him a PC game: Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. The day after he was like a kid on Christmas morning, playing his game. Unlike me who was feeling a little ill on the account of mixing drinks (wine, beer, southern comfort and vodka?...ewwww). I had a headache the whole day which finally went away well into the evening and then came back at the Inferno later that night. I had to leave after I first felt the tinges of it returning and not finding any aspirin. Thank god for pain killers. I can still remember the pain even now and feel a hundred times better for not having it still.

On Friday night Matt S. and Sigrid came knocking on the door at 3:00 in the morning because they were locked out of Sigrid's place. So we had guests! Then Saturday night Aric and his friend Laura spent the morning...well they were supposed to spend the night and were the whole reason we went to the Inferno to begin with. I ended up giving them my keys to the house and had set up beds. Our air mattress might be a lost cause. We did buy patches for it but even after putting them on the mattress it still was deflated after about an hour. Suck. So, I got up at five in the morning and realized that the living room light was still on. I go and check, and both beds were still unused. I looked outside to see if they were sleeping in their car, but nothing was there . I went back to bed and then got up again to check my cell phone and answering machine to see if they left a message. Nothing. I went back to bed and then got up again at 7:00 to feed the cats. Who pulls into the driveway then, but Aric. Apparently they went to an after bar. I opened up the door for them, and for a brief moment turned into a parent "Where were you? I was worried!". At that point Tim got up and we took Pluto to the dog park where he had a blast and got some treats from one of the other ladies that goes there every weekend with Annabelle (the biggest treat whore there ever was).

After the dog park, I went back to bed, and Tim went to play his video game some more. At 12.30 Sigrid called, and we all piled into the car to have breakfast at the original pancake house. It was great! I haven't gone out for breakfast in a really long time. Then Aric and his friend left, and we went back to bed to get up again at 6:00 where I worked on some beadwork projects and Tim played more of his game.

I still have to clean up. Thank goodness the mess is downstairs and I can procrastinate on it. The funny thing is when Tim left this morning to go to work there was a grill on the front porch step. It was from Phil who had confused the date of the party and wasn't able to come. Apparently they can't have it anymore and don't have the storage...so we have a grill! How awesome is that? I might have to grill something before the snow falls.

You see? It was a great weekend. I have the warm fuzzy feeling that Tim's birthday was a success for once, and thank goodness there is a month before the Christmas party. I can't wait until we get that day/trundle bed for the guest room. It will be so nice.

I don't think the beaded flowers thing I was to make and figure out for Jen is going to work. I did figure out how to do it, and made some petals and flowers..but I just don't like how it looks. However, I did get the idea to make trees. Now the trees...they are super cool. Right now I am working on beaded Christmas trees. I need to get more wire and floral tape. I am so excited about this. I wish I could sell them somewhere or something. Maybe after I make a few. I did realize this weekend that my crafting has exploded.

This morning I watched two shows on the history channel about the SS Waffen. The show focus I think, was to try and figure out ... why they were so loyal, even to the end when what they were fighting for was a mere delusion. It's hard when you see something like that...they believed what they were doing was right. That it was just, and even though I don't believe what they did was right (with as much vigor as they believed otherwise), who in the history of man wouldn't want an army that was that loyal? Everyone wants people to be utterly loyal to whatever the cause. A king wants people to follow him and protect, a nation to it's citizens, or family to relatives, or even people to their friends. It's strange that they were exactly just that....loyal to the end, and yet no one can understand why.

Just a reminder:

Tim's 30th Birthday Party TONIGHT

Festivities start at 9:00.
3846 Tulane Ave
Madison

There be food, cake, and booze! Please come and make it a special first birthday party for Tim to remember and ease him into his old age.

Today is the day I am going to watch Sophie after school. I am already to go and tried to take Pluto out, but since there is Hurricane like wind forces out there all he did was stand around, then ran around a little bit and then tried to take a nap. That damn dog. He didn't go pee this morning and now he isn't going to get the chance to go until 6.00. I hope there isn't an accident because if there is, then TIM is cleaning it up. Not me. No way Jose.

I know it has been awhile when blogger forgets me and I have to manually sign in. Sigh. The last two days I have been sleeping in ... later. Although I did fight for my life to get up today at 10:00. I think it was because we had a lot of late nights this past weekend and I am used to staying up late. Last night I stayed up and did some beadwork while listening to old movies. I really enjoy beadwork, it calms me.

I finished the shawl and am about to finish the quilted knitted throw I have been working on for the past eight months. I am thinking I will have to make Pluto's hood next, and then work on the rocking chair. THIS week though I need to make the downstairs look warm and inviting, and like a party down there wouldn't be a weird thing. Not to mention the house was destroyed by my darling, dog and cats this past weekend and all the floors need to be sweep, mopped and vacuumed....again.

This last weekend, Tim and I managed to rake the whole back yard! We did it! It took about two hours and many trips of tarps laden with leaves, but we managed and for one half hour the back yard looked awesome. Of course now as I am typing this there are two carpets being added to by the minute under two of the trees stubbornly holding on to their leaves. We are going to have to do at least more raking this season and clean out the gutters again.

Speaking of the cats, I woke up on Saturday morning hearing some loud and awful. I quickly elbowed Tim in the ribs so that he would wake up and hear the banshee's fight for their lives in the living room. I reached for my glasses and Tim and I were soon running into the living room to see what was going on. Migo was under the couch and Arkham was stalking away. I didn't get to see where Innsmouth was at that point, but I am sure that this witness had run from the crime scene. The cats were fighting! Honest to god, get the hell of of my terrirtory you dirty whore, fighting. I had to check Migo to see if she was okay (which she was) but Tim said he later found Migo fur still in his claws.

The rest of the day and the next all the cats were edgy. They wouldn't eat next to each other with growling and starting a mexican stand off so that we had to give them seperate bowls. What started this? They have never fought before. Tim thinks there was a rebellion in the heirarchy.

Oh and that also reminds me that Pluto is afraid of Juno Reactor. Heh. I was playing DW4 and listening to musici when a song came on that distubed Pluto. Although I didn't realize it at first. I thought he was going to just get something to drink or something, but every time the stereo made a low 'woo' noise he would pace back and forth with his ears cocked. I thought it was funny so I called Tim in to watch and rewinded the noise for a bit...that is until I realized that Pluto was shaking. Poor dear. No more Juno Reactor for him. Heh, and yesterday while we were watching the Wonder Boys on TV, the pitpull that gets shot was barking...remember that? Well that the dog is barking and out of nowhere we hear a rusty sounding growl in our own house. The first time we have ever heard Pluto growl and he was doing it because, though he is normall afraid of dogs barking......dogs barking in our house is unacceptable. This is his space.

Did you read that? He is viewing the house as his space! That means he is starting to really adjust to living here. Cool.

We also got our new phones...so that means I have a new cell phone number, as does Tim. If you want it let me know. The phones are half the size of our old phones, and they are SO little and cute. I am almost afraid I am going to lose it, but it is small enough to put in any pocket and doesn't turn on easily so I won't accidentally be calling anyone like I did with the last phone. That piece of crap.

I got a piece of mail that should sum up my job search and my luck:

Dear Ms. Red Eagle,

...[sic]....We received an overwhelming response to this recruitment: 272 individuals applied for the position...[sic].

Sincerely,

MATC


Um, do I need to say anymore? 272 people for a lousy secretary job? Egads. Tomorrow is my first day taking care of Sophie after her school. I have the bus route figured out and everything, I hope it goes well.

I did it! I changed wireless service and cut our bill down in half! Wonderful. Not to mention we are getting the coolest phones that have a retail price of 175$ ... for free (with two year contract). It felt SO good to call AT and T to cancel our service. However, Justin, the man who helped me was nice and suggested first changing out monthly plan to the lowest possible one...which is 19.99 for 45 minutes. Sick isn't it? That is SO little. He was like, are you sure you want that? I said, Yeah, I can gaurantee I won't be be using them because my phone is broke!

Uff. The reason I did that was because the can only cancel the service at the end of the billing cycle which is on the 20th of this month. I am pleased though because I saved us 60 dollars, minus the activation fees on the new phones (...54 dollars), I saved us six bucks! What am I gonna do with all that moola? That is like 600 dollars in savings over the year??? IS that right? Wow.

Where else can I cut corners?

I got up this morning to make Tim breakfast and lunch because we have no easy food. If I hadn't have done it he wouldn't have eaten or would have spent money on lunch. I need to go to the store to get some real staples like bread, milk, cereal, co co wheats..etc. Not a big grocery bill like last time because I don't need any meat.

I am keeping my head above water with Nano. I have 7,000 and some change in words. Gotta keep at it. At least I have a mission now for the characters and have set up some scenes I can work on when my imagination runs out of gas.

Tonight I am meeting Sophie and her mother. Although my days have now changed to once a week and the odd days here and there. Eh, I already committed...so why not? It's on Wednesday's, and to be honest, it feels like charity work, which is something all good housewives get into sooner or later. That or the church. Heh.

I am making crunch carmel apple pie right now, and soon will put together the things for lasagna. Sigrid and Matt are coming over for dinner tonight (which is why there is a special dessert ;) ). I still have to swift and vacuum because Matt is allergic to animals and we have a small petting zoo.

Halloween was fun. I had 32 little trick or treaters ...and I did write every single one down. The best costume of all was a little boy with his grandmother. When I asked him what his costume was he said something I couldn't understand...."a kina?" What? His grandmother says "It's a bird." The boy responds "No it not" with quite some indignation. "It's a mammal." Ahh I say and nod knowingly.

Of course I don't have any idea what he was talking about. I ask Tim "Do you know what an 'a kina" is? It's a mammal."

Tim says "What? You mean an aechidna?"
"Uh...yeah. That is what I mean." I said.

So then Tim was bummed that he didn't get to see his costume because he probably would have made that kid's day. My coup of the night was a little girl was dressed as Dobby the House Elf. I asked her where her sock was, and all of a sudden became really quiet, and her parents laughed. I heard them say that was a good one, and then her Mom saved her and said "She doesn't get her sock until she is eighteen." Ha. Now that is a good one.

After the kids stopped coming and Kate and Leopold came to end, I got a little bummed. I was sure I could stay home and do nothing on Halloween. I went to the computer and started to attack anyone that came online...which was few and far between. Then Sigrid came online and I asked her what she was doing home on a hip Friday night. She said that they were getting ready for Dan's Halloween party. ??? What? How did I miss this? I want to go. She says go. I say, we already have been drinking. She says she will pick us up.

How awesome is that? So, we went to Dan's Party (we have always liked them...). I had tons of fun and the rest of the weekend I felt no urge to go anywhere.

Tim took Pluto as a represenative to the Madison Dog Fair in the morning. Pluto got SO much attention he was whupped by the time he got home so all he did was sleep. I bet he was heaven. He loves people so much.

So far, I am keeping up with NaNoWriMo...although it has only been two days....and well...tonight. Tim has been doing really good, better than me even. But we all know it's an endurance race.