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I bought my house almost 5 years ago. It was fairly new when I bought it, so there wasn’t a lot that needed to be done, but I did have some things I knew I would want to change. I wasn’t crazy about the beige carpet all through or the linoleum in the kitchen and bathrooms. Changing them would be a big expense and they weren’t horrible, so I decided to wait and do them later. Also – every wall in the house is WHITE! I always thought I would like white walls – clean, bright looking rooms! But, when I saw the rooms with nothing in them and all those blinding white walls staring at me, I knew I was going to need to paint. But, the question was – what color? I gave it a lot of thought and decided to just move in and see what adding color with furniture and accents would do and really think about what I want to do with each room. So, I moved in with the white walls.
When I got settled in, my priorities changed – I wanted a house with a fenced in back yard and an attached garage. I couldn’t find a house I liked with BOTH, so I decided to settle for a garage cause putting in a fence would be easier than adding a garage! So, my first priority was the fence and then some landscaping. And the walls remained white!!!
I kept the desire to paint the walls on my radar. I have avoided putting a lot of things on the walls so that when I am ready to paint, I won’t have to take a bunch of stuff down and then re-hang it all – I have some stuff up, but not a lot! And every year it is put it on my list of things I want to accomplish that year…………but other things keep getting moved up on the priority list!
I have replaced the carpeting with wood flooring in the living room, foyer, and down the hallway. I have replaced the linoleum with dura-ceramic tiles in the kitchen and guest bathroom. I have replaced the white appliances with stainless steel appliances. But the walls are still white!!!
The original reason for waiting was that I really didn’t know what I wanted to do with the walls – I wanted to live there and see my “stuff” in it before I decided on colors. That is no longer the issue – it didn’t take me long to decide on colors and what I wanted to do! Now, the “excuses” I come up with every time I get ready to do it are:
Next spring, I am definitely getting a quote and having someone come in and paint it all at once and be done with it……….but, that will depend on whether or not it will cost a fortune and what other projects may need to be done first — after all, I’ve lived with them this long……
Uugghh — I guess I’m doomed to have white walls FOREVER!!! I should have just got it over with before I moved in!
It appears that the Durham County Commissioners became heroes for the many dogs who are left chained to trees by their owners. The passed a sweeping ban on the tethering of dogs that will take effect in 2010. The only sad part is that they have to allow the 15 month educational period before they can fully implement the ban, but I understand that it can’t happen over night. I applaud the Durham Commissioners and hope that Lee County Commissioners will move in the same direction – ASAP!!!
If you have read this blog at all over the past year or so, it is no secret that I am a dog lover! I am a huge supporter of rescuing dogs who, without intervention, would be doomed to live a life not fit for a rat! I have three of those of my own – Katie, Megan, and Amy – and up until a little over a year ago, I had another rescue – Puddles – who was my pampered princess for over 16 years! I have a long history of taking in strays and loving them! I would have a house full of dogs, if I thought I could give them all the individual love and attention that they deserve, but for now, three is my limit!
I get sick to my stomach when I see a dog tied to a tree or the side of the house and no one around to give them the attention they deserve! Or worse, yet – when they don’t even get their basic need for shelter and water met and they are neglected to the point of shameless abuse! Tethering just makes a dog frustrated and unruly. I have never understood why someone would make the effort to get a dog and then tie them to a tree and only interact with them when they take them a bowl of food once or twice a day!
I know that not everyone who tethers a dog is guilty of the level of abuse and neglect that prompts the need for a ban such as this one, but it happens more than most people want to know! I do like the stipulation that the Durham Commissioners made to allow tethering when a responsible adult is within eye sight of the dog. That allows for people who have dogs that live in their homes and are loved and cared for, but can’t have the luxury of a fenced in area for their pets – either because of cost or restrictions where they live. They can walk the dogs on a leash, but if they are out doing yard work or something, a tether in certain conditions allows the dog to be out there with them and remain safe from wandering off and getting hit by a car or lost. That is good!
If you make a dog a part of your family, they will give you so much more in return! Give them a way to run and play safely, let them in your house and your heart. Right now, two of my dogs are running around their fenced in back yard playing safely with each other and the third one is laying next to me on the couch with her head on my lap while I am typing this!
OK – so maybe I go a little over the top when it comes to the way I treat my dogs – they are treated like children, live in my house, sleep in my bed, and I am shocked when they actually act like dogs! ha-ha BUT – my point is: If you don’t want to invest time, love, and companionship to a dog — don’t get one!!!! What is the point of having a dog that is tied to a tree and not a part of your life? Be a responsible pet owner — love your pets — they will love you back 1000 fold!!! I promise you!!!
Sorry for the soap box — but I am obviously very passionate about this and was so elated to read about Durham’s ban and the editorial by the Herald’s Editorial Board that I had to write a comment — and I just couldn’t stop my fingers from rambling on about it!!!
Now — go have a great day — I know I will………and be sure to hug a dog!
I heard some sad news today — El Rancho, the Caribbean restaurant on Wicker Street, went out of business! I always hate to hear of any business that doesn’t make it, but I know the owner – Jose – and he had such a passion for bringing his specialized cuisine to Sanford. It is a really tough year for small businesses — just recently, we’ve seen Casa Toscana and Julia’s Cuban Sandwich restaurants go out of business and now El Rancho is closed. I’m sorry to see them all go – they each brought a unique ethnic touch to Sanford!
I went to Myra’s Kitchen tonight to show her past Gala photos and talk about what she can expect as one of the participating restaurants. While I was there, she mentioned that she is going to have Pot Roast as one of her specials this week – probably Weds or Thurs! I’ve had her Pot Roast and it is WONDERFUL…….she doesn’t offer it often, so if you want to give it a try, call to check which night she decides to have it on the menu and go enjoy!!! You won’t regret it!!!
The girls are whining at me to go to bed, so I’ll end my thoughts here and say good night!
Sadly, Pat passed away in 1997, so we can not vote for him this year — but, we can keep his memory and vision alive through You Tube! So he’s dead – “Picky, Picky, Picky!!!” Dear Pat, If you’re listening, we sure could use you this year!!!
Update: Per the comment left on this post by Noma Paulsen, you can get more info about Pat on his website: http://www.paulsen.com/
Here is the one particular simple thing that makes each one happy:
Here are just some of the simple things that get them ALL in a state of bliss:
And that is the “short list”!
Last evening, as the wind started to pick up, I realized I should take in my beautiful new patio umbrella that I got at the Arden sale and not risk having the wind ruin it! So, I went out in the rain and pulled it out of the stand and brought it in the house (I didn’t want to walk through the already soggy grass to the shed). Since it was wet, I put it in the tub in the guest bathroom – it was the best place for it – out of the way and where the drips could be contained! Well, this morning I woke up, let the girls out and went into the guest bathroom to splash some water on my face and brush my hair – as usual, I didn’t turn the light on and as soon as I entered the room, I caught sight of that big umbrella in the tub out of the corner of my eye and jumped out of my skin!!!! I leaped sideways and banged my hip and wrist on the sink cabinet and stubbed my toe – ouch! It only took me a second to realize that my first thought (that someone was standing in my tub) was, of course, incorrect and that it was just that darned umbrella! But it sure succeeded in waking me up – fast!
My mushroom crop is gone – the mower ate them all!!! Maybe all this rain will sprout a new crop……..
It is going to be a good day to hibernate with the girls and be lazy! I see a marathon of LifeTime movies in my near future. Right now, I am enjoying “The Family Stone” on FX – good movie!
So – mysteries solved!
My Mom sent me an email this morning that cracked me up!!! It was related to my use of the term “The Girls” when I refer to my dogs – Katie, Megan, and Amy! I make it a priority to allow time to go home and take care of the girls when I have a lot going on – I don’t care what I’m late for – the girls come first!!!! I write her all the time to say “I ran home and took care of the girls and then (fill in the activity or destination)….” or I’ll say “I got up and took care of the girls and then went about my business…..” and so on! Well, she got a real kick out of this morning’s Good Morning America (I think that’s the show she mentioned) — apparently there was a lady on there promoting her new book “Taking Care of the Girls” and she laughed her butt off when she found out the book was about Breast Health and Self Exam……….ha-ha-ha-ha She said she would forever have a very different picture in mind when I say “I ran home to take care of the girls….” ha-ha
I was listening to the podcast for The Rant this evening and they were making “fart” noises to make a point on one of their topics during the first half of the show. It drove Katie nuts!!! ha-ha I make motorboat sounds with my mouth to get them riled up and they dance a round and whine and growl and howl………it is fun!! Anyway — when Katie heard the “fart” sounds on the computer, she thought it was me making my motorboat sounds — but, it puzzled her when she came up beside me and I was obviously NOT making the noises! She jumped off the couch and ran around the living room trying to find out where the sound was coming from and it just drove her nuts!!! Megan and Amy just slept through it…….but Katie really enjoyed it!!
I couldn’t get to sleep last night — I tossed and turned all night long and might have actually gotten about 3 hours sleep! I sure hope tonight is better! I hate it when I have a long bout with insomnia! I hope this isn’t going to be one of those!
So – I’m heading to bed to see if I can get some real sleep tonight! But – I need to take care of the girls, first — the four legged girls, that is! ha-ha-ha
I am so glad I spent my Sunday afternoon at the Temple today — the show was fantastic!!! It started out with her first time on the radio at age 14 and went through to her death in 1963……. There was a narrator (played delightfully by Temple staffer Michael Brocki) that told some stories behind the songs and what was going on in her life about the time she either recorded the song or sang it for something special.
The stage musicians were amazing and Lisa Dames did an incredible job as Patsy Cline!!! Her voice was amazing!!! OK, so she isn’t a perfect match to Patsy (there was, and always will be, only one Patsy Cline), but she’s as close to perfect as you can get without being Patsy herself!!! She really belts out the songs and has that growl and crack in her voice at all the right spots — only someone who can close their eyes and instantly listen to the real Patsy sing the songs could tell the difference — very, very good!!!
It brought out all kinds of emotions — hearing the songs, seeing the costumes, etc — it was very moving!!! I teared up a few times, but broke out sobbing when she sang “Sweet Dreams” and “Crazy” — then, the icing on the cake was after the narrator portrayed a radio announcer telling the news of her death — they shined a white spot light on a lone microphone stand and she talked from off stage saying how her fans will never know how happy they made her by loving her music and caring so much about her — then, she came out and stepped into the spot light wearing an impeccable white suit and sang the hymn “Just a Closer Walk With Thee” — she had the entire audience in the palm of her hands!!!! And I lost it!!!!
I can not imagine anyone not loving Patsy and her music — if you do, you don’t want to miss this show!!! But even if you aren’t a big fan — if you enjoy listening to an incredible voice — go see this show!!! You won’t regret it!!!
It was incredible — so well done — so beautiful — so well worth the time to see it!!! I just may have to go again before it is done…..correction I WILL be going to see it again before it is done!!!
My old cell phone didn’t have a lot of features and, therefore, not a lot of choices for ring tones. But, I was able to down load ring tones from a limited selection. I went through all the choices over and over again trying to decide what ring tone would suit my style. I settled on Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther Theme. In my previous position, part of my responsibilities included investigations and auditing, so it was kind of cool to use the Pink Panther Theme to signify the inspector/auditor part of my life!
In my current position, I don’t do much of those types of tasks. Also, over the past year or so, I have been trying to focus more on my private life and bring that part of my life out more. So — when I got a new phone a month or so ago, I wanted to find something very special to me personally…… The search began!!!!
The first ring tone I downloaded and used for a short time was My Girl by the Temptations – in honor of the girls – I sing that song to them all the time! I liked that and thought I found my ring tone! But, in searching further, I found Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett! BINGO!!! I couldn’t down load it fast enough — it is perfect for me — it makes me smile — it makes me want to just let the phone ring, sing along, and call the person back later! ha-ha
I also downloaded (for future possible changes to suit my mood) a couple of classical instrumentals for mellow moods, I Love Rock ‘n Roll by Joan Jett for my rock side, and a crazy one — it starts out yelling “Hey, Kim!” and goes into a really cool guitar riff, then yells “Come on!” and goes into a great rock melody. The last one is pretty cool, but irritating when it goes off in my office or the grocery store, so I will have to be in a really wild mood to use it! ha-ha
So – after a lot of searching, thinking, and trial & error, I settled on Mustang Sally – with a few back ups in case I get a wild bug telling me to change it up a little! If you are in a store somewhere and hear a Mustang Sally ring tone go off on another aisle, look around – you’ll probably find me answering my phone (or maybe just letting it ring and bee bopping around the produce section….)!
What’s your ring tone and why did you pick it? You can post a comment here or do your own detailed explanation on your blog!
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