Bringing home the Brat

Well, although it was super cold today, we all bundled up and went to pick up "The Brat".  That is the name that stuck when his previous owners brought him home.  Although most of his bratty behavior has disappeared, he's still hampered with that name. 

He did really well loading, unloading, and getting aquainted with mom's horse, Blue.  He was excited to have the hay that dad put up last summer, taking great pains to make it perfect for horses. I know squat about hay, so I can't be more specific, but Brat was happy to get it.

Blue sqealed and snorted and tried to act tough, but he wasn't physically agressive, and Brat couldn't have cared less about all the commotion.  Soon after being turned out together, they were enjoying a meal side-by-side.  I created a Snapfish album (since this computer doesn't have AOL, so "I've got Pictures" doesn't work).  It may want you to create a user name to view it.  If you don't want to do that, the second link is to my mom's journal, and you can view the pictures there.

http://www.snapfish.com/share/p=716231106526084031/l=39437904/cobrandOid=1000131/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

http://journals.aol.com/mosie1944/MYCOUNTRYLIFE/entries/635

The Saturday Six

1. Which of the following is your favorite store and why?  
A) Wal-Mart
B) Target
C) K Mart
D) Sears

A) Wal-Mart.  I like it because we have a superstore, and I can get groceries while getting everything else.

2. How far does your closest friend who's not in the same town as you live, and when was the last time you saw them in person?

150 miles, and I need to get back down there to visit.  It's been a few months.

3. Have you ever gone on a date with someone you met online?  Would you?

Ummm, no, and no.  I have some that I definately plan to meet (several this year), but I'm happy I'm married, and don't have to think about that stuff.

4. What is your favorite novel and what makes it stand out for you?

Dang, there are so many.  I love just about any book that I can get in to.  I'd say (for a quick answer) it's The Green Mile.  Such darn good writing there.

5. You get snowed in at your home for three days.  You have power and telephone service, but no way to leave the house.  How will you amuse yourself?

Internet, internet, internet.

6. A fellow journaler you consider a friend disappears from J-land.  Visitors leave comments in the journal but they get no response.  You send the journaler an E-mail to make sure everything is okay, and despite the fact that you see that it has been read, you get no reply.  What do you do?  

I've often thought about that, and one part of this question saves me.  If I see that the email has been read, I back off.  Maybe something changed drastically, and a journal isn't plausible.  In my bubble, people don't disappear, so I'm done thinking about it!

Hot time on a Friday night

Wow, you'd think that Kevin and I would slow down at our age.  We are just out of control with the party lifestyle.

At 7:30, Kevin was snoring in bed, I was on the computer, and all journals and message boards had been checked.  I looked around this messy room and started laughing.  The cat looked at me like I was nuts.  I could get up and tidy things in here.  But I won't.

Both computer desks have assorted papers and items left behind by visiting daughters, both have glasses of half-flat Diet Coke, and all of our "end-of-day" collections.

Kevin's collection contains a wallet, checkbook, cell phone, loose change, keys, and a pen.  Mine is a cell phone, lottery ticket (loser!) cigarettes, lighter, and watch.  Over there to the left is my camera, to the right is the laptop.  A box of Kleenex leftover from my cold, sunglasses and a math paper (way to go Sis!). 

There's an awesome CD Rhythm, Country, and Blues, the printer, my last two pay stubs, a screwdriver, thermometer (I catch Natalie checking her temperature quite often...that's why the batteries are often dead when someone IS sick.) There is one of the stereo speakers (the other is on K's desk...stereo is in between on the filing cabinet) and all of the components of the desktop PC.  Sheesh.  How embarassing!

Think I'll post a pic!

This is my mess!  Gross.

This is the view of both messes.  Grosser still!

Oh yeah, I'm signing off now and cleaning this mess!

Dinner Time Conversations

I picked up the girls tonight, since Kevin had to work late.  We got home, started dinner, and did the backpack routine (check for homework, sign the agenda, see graded papers, etc.)  As the girls started eating, we were talking about their day. 

Monica was talking about a mouthy little girl in her class.  She said, "she's sassy and thinks she has to run the show...well, do *I* have news for *HER*!  She's not all that!"  Damn, I about spit Diet Coke over that one.  She had the head bob going, and hands on her hips.  All attitude and priss.  Man, she's gonna be a pill when she becomes a teenager.

Natalie brought up some kid at after school day care who kicked her in the head today.  She said that the teacher grabbed her, but she was (this is such a visual that I'm ruining it...), "trying to get away and stuff." This was demonstrated by Natalie's arms flailing around like crazy, almost knocking over her koolaid.  I asked if the girl got in trouble when her mom picked her up, but Natalie said, "It was her Gramma, and she didn't say *ANYTHING* to her about it!  Oh well, she'll see how she likes it when she winds up in Juvenile Hall!"  Crap, there comes the Diet Coke again.

I wonder where they get their attitude toward butt-heads?  I have zero tolerance for it, so does Kevin.  My poor kids are gonna be hard nosed adults!

Feeling better

I fell asleep at 8 last night (thanks for tucking in the girls, Kevin) and woke up not feeling much better.  Turned out, it was medicine head.  As I turned my body, it took 2.5 seconds for the brain to catch up.  After I got up and around, though, I really felt better.  I'm not 100% yet, but I am way ahead of yesterday.

The kids are being pretty good tonight, we're shopping for DSL/phone service packages (comcast cable TV and internet together is breaking us, with no home phone...cell only), and watching CRAP on TV.  It was warmer today, I was done with everything when I left work, and I'm not sneezing, so life is definately good tonight.

I am going this weekend to pick up the girl's new horse!  There will be pictures posted this weekend, after we get him.  Dad is being soft hearted/sweet/understanding enough to let us board "Brat" at his house, so we'll get everything settled this weekend and see how Brat and Blue get along.  Blue is twice his size, so if there is any pecking order to be established, I have a feeling I know how THAT will go.  This is a "lease/option" type deal...we are going to try him out, and if we decide that he's OK for the girls, we'll buy him this summer.  His owner (a very good friend) is even going to throw in the halter and let us borrow a saddle!

He's very small, so he's for the girls only.  He's not a pony, just a small Arabian.  The girls have already ridden him, and we've all gotten to know him, so we're very excited.  We'll go to Mom and Dad's on Saturday morning, pick up the trailer, and go get him.  A big part of the afternoon will be spent getting to know him better, grooming and such.  Girls might get a short ride if he's not to disoriented.  He's travelled to trail rides, though, so I think he'll be fine.  I'm so excited.  Thanks Dad!

Little annoying cold

Well dang it all!  I caught Kevin's cold.  It's not a major illness, but so annoying.  Sniffle and sneeze, tiny tickle in my throat.  Not sick enough to get pity, but sick enough to be annoyed.  Cold medicine knocks it back most of the way, then it wears off and I grumble a bit more.  Think I'll take some Nyquil and go to bed early.  I can usually knock a cold pretty well and pretty quickly.  No OJ in the house, but I can grab some on the way to work.  I think I'll go over there across the room and crawl into my nice comfy bed, under my nice warm quilts.  See ya tomorrow!

Thankful for a warm home!

I woke up in a nice warm bed, thinking about how much I hate getting up on Monday, more than any other day.  I got out of bed and realized how cold it was.  I spent my "getting ready" time thinking about how cold it was downstairs.  I warmed up the van, but it was still cold most of the way to work (it's so big, it takes a while to warm up inside.)

At work, my area is always cold.  Summer and winter...it's cold in there.  In the winter, if I wear sweats, it's not too bad, but I had to wear jeans and a sweater today, since there was a customer coming in.  I froze all day.  Then, after work, it was the van thing again.  The chill is taken off, but I'm never quite *warm*.  I got home and put on sweats and a warm shirt. 

Ahhhhh, I love having a warm house.  The electric bill is going to suck, but I can sit here without being distracted by the cold.  I have feeling in my fingers, my toes aren't numb, and I'm happy, dangit...HAPPY! (Why is Kevin sweating?)