Doggie Taxi

Or, How I Get My Car Through The Gate Each Day...
I have two good-sized dogs. They're both around 9 or so, and they're both very smart, but not always so bright. One of them is a more recent addition to the family (we've had him about 3 months), and the other has been with us since he was 2 years old.
The "old" dog understands "up" to mean, "go to the top of the driveway and wait for me to bring the car up". BUT, to the "new" dog, "up" means, "get INTO the car". Hoo boy!
For a while I just blocked the dog door & kept them in the house every time I needed to move the car in or out, then released them after I closed the gate. It got old.
So now we play Doggie Taxi. I go out to the car, open the passenger doors, and let the dogs get in. Then I can move the car either in or out, and the dogs will get out and go back into the yard. They seem to love it - they get very excited when they hear me pick up my keys now. They charge out to the car (or the gate), and wait for their chance to hop in. Crazy animals. But I'm okay. Uh-huh. 'Course! ;-p

So, I'm Babysitting Teachers Now?

I got fussed at today by my boss because there were some Final grades missing on some of the students' report cards. Now, they're not missing because I didn't enter information that was given to me; they're missing because the information WAS NOT GIVEN to me.
So here's the thing: I have had the data entry job (yes, data entry, as in - people give me information, and I enter it into the computer - my job is not to correct it, change it or question it - my job is simply to ENTER it - [though I do question it and send it back for correction if I know it's wrong]) for about 5 months. The teachers who did not give me the Final grade information have had their teaching jobs for at least 25 years. In addition, they were given very clear directions on what information to provide. They each had one set of grade sheets, and an entire week to fill them out. I had one day to enter the information from 48 sets of grade sheets, request & pick up report cards, and prepare the report cards for the teachers to pick up.
Now I ask you. If a teacher with umpteen years experience does not yet know that they must give each student a Final grade, and cannot follow directions which clearly state that they are to give a Final grade, why is the data entry clerk catching hell for it?! Talk to the teacher!
Or better yet, demand an explanation from that teacher for why they don't know how to do their job. And leave me alone to do mine. Thanks.

Memorial Day

To all the servicepeople, young or old, seasoned or new,
and their families, whose support, love & sacrifice help
them to do the jobs that keep us free, Thank You.

       Day is done,
                gone the sun,
                from the lakes 
                from the hills
                from the sky,
                all is well,
                safely, rest,
                God is nigh. 

                Fading light,
                Dims the sight,
                And a star gems the sky
                Gleaming bright,
                From afar,
                Drawing, near,
                Falls the night. 

                Thanks and praise,
                For our days,
                Neath the sun
                Neath the stars
                Neath the sky,
                As we go, 
                This, we, know,
                God is nigh.

Toys!

Normally I hate shopping, for anything, but give me a little bit of money, with the directive to spend it on myself, and drop me in the electronics department, and I am the proverbial Kid in a Candy Store! (Courtship tip for any future possible boyfriends: don't give me jewelry, clothes, or fancy anything. Think geek. And shop accordingly. Heh.)
So I had birthday money to spend yesterday, and went out and bought myself a digital camera, (since my had long ago been appropriated by my daughter, who uses it all the time, and my other daughter also has her own) and I also finally got us an all-in-one printer! Yippee!!!
Both were one model up from what I had originally been looking at, and have more or better features, so that was a nice bonus. 'Course, now I have to learn how to use all those features, but it will be fun!

Happy Birthday To Me!

Yup! I'm a big kid now! LOL
I turn 38 today, which just doesn't strike me as midlife crisis time for me!
Hey, maybe it's because we girls generally live longer than the guys. I dunno.
I just don't feel like I'm that old. Hell, I barely feel grown up most of the time!
I will celebrate with my girls, and maybe do some fun shopping - looking for a digital camera. But don't worry - (I may post a picture or two occationally, but this won't turn into a photo blog!) :-)
So, Happy Weekend to everyone, and Happy Birthday to Me!!!

David Palmer For President

And yes, I am a "24" addict... Only I haven't seen any of season 5, because I started very late, watching the previous seasons by using Netflix... but hey! No commercials that way! I did the same thing with "Alias" - and now I'm waiting for season 5 for both shows to hit DVD. Anyway,
This country would be SO lucky to find a real-life Palmer to run for President. He's honest, straightforward, & knows thejob. He's noble, has integrity, and has the cojones to do what's necessary to make things happen for the good of the country, even at the expense of causing himself great personal pain. He's not greedy or overly-ambitious.
I'm not sure how a man like that would end up in politics to begin with, but if one ever does, we need to make damn sure he ends up in that Oval Office, and pray that he can straighten out the mess the previous occupants have made of the place!
Yup. Palmer for President!

They're So Cute!!!

The Guild Wars devs decided to give us (players of the game) all birthday presents!!!
When each of our characters turns one year old, that character gets a gift box in their inventory. Open the gift box, and you find an adorable (okay, usually ugly as sin, but still really cute!) mini pet! There are a bunch of different ones, and what you get is totally random, except for, as a really cool bonus, if you bought (or buy) the Collector's Edition of Guild Wars: Factions, you get a mini of the dragon, Kunavaang. He's gorgeous! I won't get my first mini-pet until September, but I've seen some people with them, and they're fun! I'll post mine here when I get it, naturally. :-)

I Love This!

Annie, over at Smart At Love, has good advice for women who may wonder why they're still single at ages over 30 and up. Or women like me, who are single again, and maybe wonder if they've had enough or want to try again. (As for me, nope. I'm not ready to even consider it! Not even dating. Single works for me...) Anyway, my favorite part of the post was this quote, from a book she's recommending:

“Repeat this to yourself one thousand times: Screwed-up people are not more interesting than people with their heads together. Baggage is not fascinating, romantic, or exciting. It is very, very tiring. Men who are polite and emotionally mature are hot. Learn it, love it, live by it.”

I think I will keep this in mind, for that day in the (far) future when I decide I might just be ready to think about dating. 'Cause if I'm gonna do it again, I really really want it to involve healthy relationships for once! Just sayin'.

Furry Beast

So here's the thing. How much can one dog shed?! I tell you, we could have stuffed a mattress with all the fur this beast has been releasing! And it's still coming off! I brush him - outside normally, I vacuum the floors, and 30 minutes later, there's fur everywhere again. Jeez!
Okay, I know it's summer, and that he has to get rid of the undercoat, and he is a naturally thick-furred dog. (He's a German Shepherd). But I'm starting to wonder if I could skip a step & just vacuum him! Otherwise, we're going to keep seeing things like this:



"Is that a Shih-Tzu or a Lhasa Apso"

Not good, people! Not. Good. ;-p

I KNEW it !!!

This explains a lot:

Jen -- [noun]: An alien 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Random Q and A

Shamelessly stolen from Pam at Lollygaggin
30 Random questions, which she in turn found elsewhere.

1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
-Good grief, no! I'd go to pieces!

2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster?
-Can only ride the milder ones, so no.

3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
-Hmm. Wow. It's been a very long time. 'Course, I DO live in Florida now...

4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
-Alone!!! I have enough trouble sleeping, without dealing with snoring & other disturbances!
(That doesn't rule out sharing the bed at NON-sleeping times, though. Just sayin')

5. Do you believe in ghosts?
-I do.

6. Do you consider yourself creative?
-Sometimes.

7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
-Yes.

8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie?
-Angie. She's so hot - Hell, I want her, and I'm straight!

9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
-only that I want to stay completely out of 'em!

10. Do you know how to play poker?
-Yeah, but only because of Yahtzee.

11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
-Yup. Sucks.

12. What's your favorite commercial?
-No such thing.

13. Who was your first love?
-Tommy Blushi (who may never know it)

14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and nobody is around you, do you run a red light?
-No way. Not even a stop sign.

15. Do you have a secret that nobody knows but you?
-Maybe.

16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
-I grew up near Boston, so yeah - the Sox.

17. Have you ever been ice skating?
-Yes! I used to love it! Don't know if I could so much as stand in skates these days, though.

18. How often do you remember your dreams?
-Occasionally. Sometimes they're really bizarre, too.

19. What's the one thing on your mind?
-One?! Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

20. Do you always wear your seatbelt?
-Only when I'm in the car. Haha.

21. What talent do you wish you had?
-I wish I could sing.

22. Do you like sushi?
-Ew! I don't even like fish when it's cooked!

23. What do you wear to bed?
-Usually nothing.

24. Do you truly hate anyone?
-Nah. I don't have it in me. There are a few I seriously detest, however...

25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
-Viggo Mortensen

26. Do you know anyone in jail?
-I hope not!

27. What food do you find disgusting?
-sushi, anything involving organs or giblets, and most traditionally southern foods

28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
-Fussed about 'em probably, but never made fun - that's mean

29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
-No. Slapped, scratched, but never punched.

30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
-Angels, yes. I have at least one guardian angel. That or extremely good luck! Demons, no.

Time For A Change

Wanted a new place to talk, so here I am.