The Holiday Season is Officially Here - And Other Stuff

It's October 1st. and the Holiday Season is upon us.

Big S just LOVES Halloween, and has been chomping

at the bit, cause I've made him wait until today, to start

putting up decorations.

All the Halloween stuff, must be put away

on the 1st of November, and then I get to put out my

fall decorations.

I don't know what we will do

for Thanksgiving this year.

Maybe I'll just order dinner for three.

Christmas Decorations will go up either the day after

Thanksgiving or on the first of December.

I so love this time of year.

Last night, when I took the dogs out around midnight...

there was just a little bit of a nip in the air.

The sky was clear and the moon and stars

where shining so brightly.

George and Gracie were feeling

a little frisky, so when I heard another

dogs barking, I was afraid that they

would feel the need to join in.

Every 3 to 4 seconds

- like clock work -

this dog would let out of whoop.

On an On and On.

I started getting really irritated.

Another dog, somewhere in the night

began to howl back.

I hate it  when people leave their dogs outside...

not caring if the dog is hurt, or frightened,

and not giving a single thought

to their neighbors ear drums.

LOL - I kept listening, and thinking

"this dog sure has one weird bark."

Then it dawned on me.

It was an owl.

One very loud - sounding like a bulldog

on steroids with the croup -

whoot whoot whooting owl.

I brought the dogs in and then remembered

that I wanted to get some photo's of our

resident geckos.

I've been trying to remember to take the camera out with me

when the dogs go out for the last time, before bed.

So, I grabbed my camera and snuck back out of the

house (didn't want George going with me),

and would you believe it...

those little suckers all disappeared.

Usually there are at least three or four!

I did about a mile and a half on the

Gazelle.  WooHoo.

I want to work up to 3 miles each night.

I only gained back 2 lbs. of the 13 that I lost

when I was so sick, a few weeks ago

AND

I lost those 2 lbs. this week.

I really want to try to maintain

the loss during the holidays,

if at all possible.

I'm stressed to the max.

Wedding plans have been changed and then

changed again, and then changed once more.

All the overtime, at Oscar Jrs. workplace,

goes away this week. This doesn't mean that he'll

work fewer hours - just that he won't get paid for them

Our taxes are going up.

Our health care costs have doubled.

And we lose another child deduction this year.

Ho- Ho-Ho

&

How in the heck are we going

to manage Christmas gifts this year?

Don't get me wrong.

I'm so very grateful for all our blessings.

And I  realize that we are so much better off

than probably 90% of the rest of

the people on this planet.

But gosh darn it...

...it seems that the harder my poor husband

works - the more he gets kicked in the wallet!

Okay - I'm taking a few deep breaths now.

I will not think negative thoughts.

I will not think negative thoughts.

I will not think negative thoughts.

This is one weird, long, disjointed post.

I'm thinking that all my weight loss

has been in my noggin!

I've got a favor to ask!

My buddy Eduardo the Snuggle Puggle

(and his mom and dad),

are participating in the Light The Night walk,

to earn money for the

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

This is a cause that is very near and dear to them.

Just look at that face.

He's begging you...

...would you please consider making a small donation?

$5 or $10 - Every dollar helps!

Ana's (Eduardo's mom) donation page can be found HERE.

Eduardo's post about the walk are

Here & Here

Thanks so much!

Drop by and tell them I sent you - please?

Lookie What I Got

My husband and I celebrated our

36th wedding anniversary on Monday.

I'm hoping that I get 36 more years,

with the wonderful man that I married.

Oscar Jr. came home early.

Big S made a roast in the croak pot,

with carrots and potatoes.

I made the gravy.

We spent a quiet evening at home

watching episodes of

Corner Gas.
It's nights like these,

that make life worth living!

Do you want to see what I got for my anniversary?

Okay - you twisted my arm!

I got Flowers,

and a Lucky Money Plant:-)

And this waaaaaaay cool

cleaning cart!

A Laptop Caddy

Here it is with all my stuff on it.

(See my review here.)

AND

If that wasn't enough,

I got one of these...

...I'm a happy camper and a

very very lucky woman!!!!!!

2010 Census Information

FYI

In an attempt to avoid talking about my utter failure,

in exercising each and every day,

during the last month...

I submit the following:

  About the 2010 Census

• The census is a count of everyone living in 
• the United States every 10 years.
• The census is mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
• The next census is in 2010.
• Your participation in the census is required by law.
• It takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
• Federal law protects the personal information 
• you share during the census.
• Census data are used to distribute 
• Congressional seats to states, to make decisions 
• about what community services to provide, 
• and to distribute $400 billion in federal funds to 
• local, state and tribal governments each year.

Some concern about the upcoming U.S. Census 
taking place in 2010 
is already surfacing, as preparations 
for such a huge undertaking get

underway.  It is certainly possible that fake 
(or possibly other-than-honorable) 
census takers could appear and attempt 
to gain personal information that could be used 
for identify theft. 

Here's what to watch out for with the latest 
census going on. 
It has been verified as authentic.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2010 CENSUS !

With the U.S. Census process beginning, 
the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

advises people to be cooperative, 
but cautious , so as not to become a

victim of fraud or identity theft. 
The first phase of the 2010 U.S.

Census is under way as workers have begun 
verifying the addresses of

households across the country. 
Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census

workers will count every person in the United States 
and will gather information about 

every person living at each address 
including name, age, gender, race, 
and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference 
between a U.S.Census worker and a con artist? 
BBB offers the following advice:
** If aU.S. Census worker knocks on your door,
they will have a badge, a handheld device
a Census Bureau canvas bag, 
and a confidentiality notice. 
Ask to see their identification and their badge 
before answering their questions. 
However, you should never invite anyone 
you don't know into your home. **

 To see photo's of actual census 
workers go HERE.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors 
to verify address information . 
Do not give your Social Security number, 
credit card or banking information to anyone, 
even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. 
While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial

information, such as a salary range, 
it will not ask for Social Security, bank account, 
or credit card numbers, nor will employees

Solicit donations.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you 
by telephone,  mail, or in person at home. 
However, they will not contact you by Email, 
so be on the lookout for Email scams 
impersonating the Census. 
Never click on a link or open any attachments in an Email 
that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau. 
For more advice on avoiding identity theft and

fraud, visit www.bbb.org

You can also go HERE to the 2010 Census site.

Sunday Offering 9/27/09

May Your Day Be Blessed

Where Does The Time GO?

You know that saying about time flying when you're having fun?

Well... I must be hav'n a ball!

 I don't  work "outside the home".

I only have one child here - and he's 25.
My husband is very neat and cleans up after himself. 
I don't have that much laundry.

So what the heck am I doing to make time go by so fast?

Blogging - yep - blogging...and I haven't really been doing it here! 

You see, I started entering contests online.

Then I discovered book blogs.

(Believe me - there are blogs for EVERYTHING!)

I started winning books right and left.

A light bulb went off in my head, and I thought

"maybe I could win all my families Christmas gifts this year."

Then, back in June

-because I've obviously lost my mind -

I decided to start a book blog of my own.

I never imagined that it would take off like a rocket.

I was just going to post a review every now and then.

Maybe do a giveaway once every 3 or 4 months.

Well let me tell you..it's become a full time job.

Not that I'm complaining... but there isn't the same connection

with my readers there

(except for Bingo - I love that woman)

as there is here.

This is my blog HOME.

This is where my friends are.

And I've let this place slide, and I sincerely apologize for that.

But there's something else.

I read all of your posts, and I feel so inadequate.

I feel as if I can't continue to come up with

new and funny, or  insightful material.

I've also been worried about posting anything that would be

objectionable to anyone.

I have strong religious and political views,

but I'm reluctant to post them here,

as I would never ever want to hurt anyone's feelings.

AND

Since big S took over the desk top, I haven't even been

uploading my photo's!

I'm a mess!

But, if you guys will stick with me

I'll try to do a better job.

Deal?

I Did Exercise Today...

That's my story, and I'm stick'n too it!