A Birthday Celebration

My daughter-in-law’s birthday was last Wednesday and I am having a little get-together for her on Sunday. I will be barbecuing a chicken that is marinated in pineapple and spices (it’s a Mexican style of cooking “pollo”). I am also going to make macaroni and cheese that I saw over at Hustle Hag’s. That recipe sounds yummy. I will also be making a simple devils food birthday cake. We’re going to have fun.

M is so much fun to be with. She has a personality that shines and stands above all others, and I love to have her around.  Happy Birthday M! I love you!

THIS IS M GOOFING OFF AS USUAL (THE PATRON BOTTLE IS EMPTY)

Read Full Post »

I’m A Super Commenter!

This Award was given to me by Mercedes at Mercedes World for being a Super Commenter on her blog. I commented 10 times on her blog. I love Mercedes’ blog and I go there every chance I get.

Mercedes gave this Award to both of my blogs, 4urpets and The Empty Nest. Since The Empty Nest is quite new, and doesn’t have as many Awards as 4urpets, I humbly accept this Award at The Empty Nest, and I will proudly display it on MY AWARDS  page over to the right on my sidebar above the “picture” of me.

I looked through my stats to see who my Super Commenters are so I could pass this Award on. The Empty Nest has only 13 posts so it was easy to tabulate. Here are my Super Commenters:

Mercedes at Mercedes World. Mercedes, I don’t know how you get around so much. You are all over the place (and I’m glad). To earn this Award, you commented 16 times on 13 of my posts! So, give yourself back this Award. 

Gina at Gina’s Public Diary.  Gina came in at a close second with 15 comments on 13 posts. Looks like she doesn’t miss a day!

Sharon at Chasing Squirrels With Rusty.  Sharon commented 8 times. Woo hoo!

You guys really are Super Commenters, and I know all three of you have previously received the Super Commenter Award from someone else. Since you have already received the Award, there is no need to post that I have given you a Super Commenter Award. I just wanted to do this post to let you know that I really appreciate you all coming by and commenting. It has been a lot of fun making friends with each one of you. 

Thank you….all you Super Commenters!

Read Full Post »

American Goofball

Tony at TazBlog had a really nice post for Skywatch Friday. He mentioned something about the football field being made out of gravel, and stated that playing “Footy” is where gravel rash reigns supreme…. In my comment to him, I wanted to know what “Footy” was. Tony posted a video just for me right here. It is an amazing video about Australian Football, or “Footy”. You must go see it…you won’t believe your eyes. I am now a Footy Fan!

Since Tony lives all the way in Tasmania, I am sure he knows what American Football is, but I bet he doesn’t know what American Goofball is. Those Aussies have nothin’ on us….Look…..

Read Full Post »

Tomorrow is “Dump The Pump Day”

I just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow I will be Dumping The Pump and taking the bus to work. I woke up this morning and I was stressing myself out. I started to worry about not waking up on time, missing the bus, riding with homeless people and getting stranded.

One of the guys that works in my building takes the bus twice a week and he gave me a lot of good pointers. Now I feel a little better. I have my bus schedules, my quarters, my cell phone and my camera (I am going to try to sneak some shots on the bus). Nothing can go wrong now!

Here is one of the buses that I am going to take. It is a commuter bus. No graffiti or anything. Woo hoo!

I don’t know much about the second bus that I am going to transfer to. I hope it’s a happy bus like this……  

 Stay tuned……….

Read Full Post »

Work Work Work

A few years ago, I had a young assistant that loved to text message his girl friend all day. He also took pictures of everyone with his cell phone. Little did this co-worker know he was being photographed for posterity. 

Zzzzz zzzzz zzzzzz

Needless to say, this guy does not work here any more, nor does my assistant.

Read Full Post »

I’m My Own Granpa

A few days ago, I did a silly post titled, “You Might Be A Redneck If…”, and asked everyone to put a caption to the picture.  I got a lot of really cute captions (winners to be announced this week).

Clasidog at Fidos Place was so funny. She proceeded to post the entire song of “I’m My Own Granpa” in my comments. She said the picture was too funny and she couldn’t help it, but that song hit her as soon as she saw the pic.

I just have to post this song that Clasidog shared with me.  Classidog…this is for you! 

Read Full Post »

Tree of Happiness!

Hey everyone…I received another Award! With all of these awards, I am going to have to watch out or my head will get so big it won’t fit through the door. This Award was given to me by Joy of Joy of Desserts. I really like the sentiment of this Award, and I will share with you the things that make me happy.

Living in California, you learn a little Spanish by osmosis. If my Spanish is correct, this Award is called “Tree of Happiness”. The rules for accepting this Award are to share 6 things that make you happy and to share this Award with 6 other bloggers. As usual, link to the person who gave you the award and link to the people your are giving the award to.

Okay…..here are six things that make me happy…..:)

• MY FAMILY. I have a daughter that lives close by so we talk on the phone and see each other frequently. My other two live a little distance so I don’t see them as often. When we see each other, I make a big to do out of cooking or barbecuing and we usually spend the entire day together. Our next big family day will be next Sunday. It is my daughter-in-law’s birthday and I will be decorating the house, making a cake, and barbecuing “pollo” (chicken marinated in citrus juices and spices). Then 4th of July is coming. The entire family goes to my nearby park and we barbecue. The kids bring their water guns and flying toys. I buy about 15 cans of silly string and about 20 bracelets and necklaces that glow when you snap them. Everyone has silly string and water gun fights, even some of the adults. Then we all watch the fireworks display.
• JONESY, SISSY AND TINKY. Since my children are grown and I have “The Empty Nest Syndrome” , I first Jonesy to keep me company. As you all know, I wound up with three Chihuahuas. They give me the sense of caring for someone. They really make me happy when we play and they do silly things.
  
• BLOGGING. I really get happy when I read a funny story, or someone leaves a nutty comment on my post. There are especially two of my bloggy friends that are waaaaay out there (and you know who you are) that make me laugh out loud. Sometimes when I am at work, I will sneak to see what is going on in bloggy land and I will come upon a funny comment, and I will let out the loudest laugh. I get stares from my co-workers.
• FOOD. Now what can make a person any happier than a huge dish of ice cream or a big piece of cake?
• GARDENING. I am happy when I garden. Believe it or not, I love to weed. Weeding doesn’t take any skills so you can’t mess it up. When I weed, I daydream and my mind takes me to a lot of places. Gardening relieves stress which makes me happy.
• DREAMING OF WINNING THE LOTTERY. This is crazy but I don’t play the lottery. I think it is a waste of money. So why do I dream of winning the lottery? BECAUSE IT MAKES ME HAPPY thinking how I would spend the money if I won the Lottery. I would share it with my family and give some to charity. I would quit work and volunteer my time. Volunteering would make me very very happy.

I know that each and every person (or Vizsla) that I am going to bestow this Tree of Happiness Award on are happy people (or dog), some more so than others. I would love for them to share what makes them happy. With this being said, am now giving this Tree of Happiness Award to:

• Erin at Erin’s Blog
• Mercedes at Mercedes World
• Sharon at Hustle Hag
• Gina at Gina’s Public Diary
• Dennis at Dennis’s Diary of Destruction
  
• Tony at TazBlog

Read Full Post »

I’m Sharin’ The Love

Mercedes at Mercedes World, a very good bloggy friend of mine has Shared The Love with me. This wonderful Award was created by Memoirs of a Mommy in honor of the donor that saved her son, Noah’s life. Noah received a heart transplant. Please Share The Love by passing this around. Everyone that receives this can help raise awareness of the need for organ donations.

I would like to tell everyone that I am a proud organ donor. In California, if you choose to be a donor, it is specified on your drivers license. That is it! I am not a young donor, and I do have a few medical problems, but I am sure that I may be able to donate something that will help save a life, or make someones life easier.

All of you who read this, if you have not already received this beautiful Award, please feel free to pick up this Award and Share The Love with your bloggy friends. Just remember to link back to the originator, Memoirs of a Mommy.

Read Full Post »

I’m Dumping The Pump!

Yesterday was “Dump The Pump Day”. This is the day you are encouraged to either work at home, carpool, take a commuter train, or ride the bus one day a week. 

My last fill up was $65.00 and that was the last straw! I live about 38 miles from work and working at home, car pooling,  or taking the commuter train is not an option, I decided to look into taking the bus to to work.

I have a choice of 6 routes. I can catch  one  bus at 6:30 a.m. I have to ride in my car to another city located  8 miles away. I will also have to transfer to another bus. The  6:30 bus would let me off in a seedy part of the San Fernando Valley. I would have to wait about 40 minutes for the second bus. Total time to get to work….2 hours.

Another route would be to catch the Metro Orange Line (a commuter bus) at 7:30 a.m. approximately 12 miles from my house. I will also have to transfer buses. The 7:30 bus would let me off at a commuter station near Universal Studios in North Hollywood (better neighborhood) for a 5 minute wait to catch the second bus.  Total travel time 1 hour.

The best part about taking the bus….it will cost $1.10 each way! I am going to start riding the bus once a week starting next Thursday. Next Thursday will be my “Dump The Pump” Day!

So…once a week I am willing to get up 1 1/2 hours earlier, get out in the harsh elements, ride with the homeless,  and arrive 1/2 hour late for work. That seems like a fair trade to save gasoline. Sounds good to me!

I’ll let everyone know how it went.  Stay tuned……..

Read Full Post »

Gardening Daze

I looked around my back yard to the left…It looks pretty good. Although I should weed it.  The fortnight lillies and the agapanthus are just starting to bloom. In about 2 weeks you should see nothing but white and purple on this side.

I looked to the center of my garden. It looks bare and ugly. The azaleas are not doing well. Guess I forgot to put the azalea food around them. Think I’ll color it up a little.

I am going to plant rosemary (middle), two lavender plants (on each side), and two columbine plants (center back).

Waa laa! A clean garden area with some color. I even transplanted some allysum. This is the area that I mixed in a huge bag of compost and found a peanut the squirrel(s) buried. My neighbors think it’s cute to leave peanuts on the fence for the squirrels. The squirrels grab the peanuts and go over to MY yard and bury them. Maybe if I left peanuts for them, they will go to the neighbors and bury them.

Read Full Post »